| On 6 Dec 2003, a group of local families lead
by Kristina Frydberg planted an orchard of apple trees in a corner of
Mannings Field next to the allotments that will form the Downley Community
Orchard. |
| A good crowd of local families attended and went through an
introduction given by Kristina Frydberg and Tony Speight from the Wycombe Rangers
service who gave a lot of support and provided use of lots of their
tools and barbecue and gave a tool talk on how to use spades safely |
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| A specialist nursery grafted cuttings from two tress growing
on the common onto sturdy rootstock to produce two new varieties called
Willson's Wonder and Rita's Robin. Each family sponsored one tree and came
along to plant it and promised to look after it in the future. |
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| John Willson (of Willson's Wonder fame) demonstrated the
right way to plant and apple tree so as to improve its chances over
surviving afterwards. It was very important to get the right combination
of hole, soil, compost, tree, water, stake, guard and label and to do it
in the right order! |
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| Having gone the proper training each family was let loose
with their own tree and started digging. |
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| After a good morning's work they all lined up for the
commemorative photograph. Even the Bucks Free Press turned up, but their
pictures weren't as good as these! |
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| Everyone worked up a good appetite for the barbeque.
Suasages and chestnuts were vry welcome on what turned to be rather a cold
day. |
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| Not satisfied with digging holes for apple tress, 4 young
participants decided to dig a really big hole. They were last seen heading
for New Zealand. |
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Thanks to everyone for taking part and to especially to
Kristina for all her hard work and persistence.Thanks also to funders
Chiltern Conservation Board, Downley Parish Council and the Downley Day
committee, and, of course, to Sir Edward Dashwood for giving permission
for the use of his land |
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