BUDE Friends of the Earth were joined by a host of helpers at the community orchard at Neetside recently, as the planting of the apple trees got underway.

The planting session on Saturday, February 3, was cancelled due to an awful weather forecast — but the orchard got off to a flying start on Sunday with 18 of the 33 new trees planted. Many of those that came along had sponsored a tree as part of the Crowdfunder appeal that ran through October and November last year. Tree sponsors were able to pick their tree from a list of 33 different varieties, all chosen to suit the Cornish climate.

Starting at 10.30am, around 30 people watched as Rob Meredith, the Bude Friends of the Earth group co-ordinator, demonstrated how to plant the trees. Each of the holes were dug and then the soil was enriched with organic peat-free compost and a powder containing mycorrhizal fungi to help the roots get established.

The trees were then placed in the ground and the enriched soil filled in around the roots. Afterwards the trees were mulched with manure and the orchard volunteers were able to tuck in to some well-earned homemade cakes.

Another planting session was planned for Saturday, February 10, and there are further planting sessions on Saturday, February 17, and Sunday, February 18, starting at 10.30am and continuing until 12.30pm, weather permitting.