Wildlife Circus

 Since October Dr. Peter Coles - at times in conjunction with the Museum of Walking- has been  showing us London's mulberry trees. As we were standing looking at the pictures of the former site of the Lewisham silk mills, a by- passer remarked that her mother knew the mills in the 1930's - and they had coincidentally just planted a mulberry with Lewis from the  Orchard Project, just a 100m from where we were standing. The history of silk goes back some 5,000 years. Discovered in China the closely guarded secret of its manufacture found its way to this country via the Silk Road and the trade routes of the world. From the Inns of Court to Keats House Museum, to Victoria, St. James' and Green Park we have seen-on Peter's walks- white and black mulberry trees hailing from the time of King James when he tried to kick start a silk industry; or the remnants of a former silk industry brought over by the Huguenots; or the specimen trees, which were a must have for e...

Lewis McNeil London Orchard Project    The rain subsided just in time for our enjoyable demonstration - performed by Lewis from the London Orchard Project - on how to maintain the orchard, at Kingston University's Dorich House at Kingston Vale. The original inhabitant - sculptor Dora Gordine - was keen on fruit, and the original apple and pear trees were reaching the end of their useful lifespan; although dead wood on healthy trees are a recognised asset for biodiversity, and is not cut out.  choosing a vertical limb The orchard was  restored and revitalised in 2011 by LOP. This included some supplementary planting of local heritage varieties such as Braddick's Nonpareil and Claygate Pearman, orginally grown by John Braddick of Thames Ditton late 1900's. Apple trees are flatter than the more upright pear trees and the wider angles take greater loads.  When trees are not pruned regularly they can revert to biennial bearing; with a lot of fruit one year...