They are asking people to survey cherry trees using a form which can be downloaded from their website.  All varieties of cherries are included, from Morello cherries to wild cherries.

cherry-blossom

The National History Museum scientists will use the information collected to produce a map of cherry tree locations & their flowering and fruiting timings.  These timings will then be monitored to see if climate change is having a significant effect on the flowering and fruiting seasons of the cherry trees.

Participants in the survey can report on any cherry trees they see, not just their own trees.  Cherry trees in parks, on allotments or down by the river, are equally important to the survey team.

To take part in the first UK cherry tree survey go to www.nhm.ac.uk/cherries

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When is the right time to pick pears?

picking-pears

Pears should never be allowed to ripen on the tree because:

• they become gritty.
• the area around the core turns brown, soft and mushy.

Pears ripen best off the tree.

Pick pears when they are:

• firm – but the flesh is very slightly springy.
• just turning yellowish green. If too green they will never get their best flavor.
• just turning the seeds brown.

• ready to come away from the tree with a slight twist & lift. If the fruit does not come off easily, the pears are not ready to pick.

  

  pick-pears

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•  is both a desert and culinary apple
• old Yorkshire apple
• variety originated circa 1855.
• Hornsea Herring Apple trees are available from Hornsea LifeBoat crew in limited numbers.
• use Hornsea Herring apples from Nov-Feb
• Hornsea Herring fruit is quite large with a very firm flesh.
• apples cook to an aromatic puree with some bite with flavour of acid-drops.

At one time in Hornsea, it was a condition for some tenants that a Hornsea Herring Apple Tree had to be planted and tended.

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chestnut

The Sweet Chestnut produces spiny fruit which encase the edible chestnut, traditionally roasted in bonfires.

chestnut-case

Chestnuts are very nutritious:

• the only nut containing vitamin C
• full of fibre – 4.1gfibre/100g chestnut
• trace elements including potassium, iron, zinc and manganese
• gluten free
• no cholesterol
• calories in 50g serving (5 chestnuts) = 85kcal
• low in fat – 2.7g fat/100g - less than 1/3 of the calories of pistachios

chestnut-tail

To Cook a Chestnut snack:

• roast for 20 minutes in a hot oven until the skin comes off
• peel
• eat pure or cover with favourite seasoning

To Store Chestnuts:

• dry nuts in a very low oven until hard
• store in a dry jar in a cool, dark cupboard
• dry chestnuts will keep for years
• to reconstitute dry nuts, put in boiling water to cover for an hour or so and use as recipe.

sweet-chestnuts

sweet-chestnut-tree

The Sweet Chestnut Tree (latin name – Castanea sativa) grows to a height of about 30m.

fruit-of-sweet-chestnut

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If the soil around the tree is very dry, it will need several buckets of water. Once the soil is wet, cover it with lawn mowings or another mulch.
When the tree has been mulched it will not need watering so often.

Trees planted before Christmas have had time to develop roots and benefit from the winter rains.

Trees planted after Christmas, nearer to the Spring, have an increasing problem getting established.

* The disturbed soil in the planting hole will dry out easily. There will be problems with capillary action, and water will not be able to rise up from the subsoil.
* The tree will want to grow in the spring.
* As bare rooted plants come out of the winter, they will start to produce roots. But the disturbed soil will not provide a suitable environment for rooting.
* The disturbed soil will not have sufficient water and nutrients to enable the tree to keep growing.

Therefore the newly planted tree will need extra water.

Scrape away a bit of soil from under the tree with a hand. Squeeze the soil between finger and thumb. If the soil stays together it is wet enough.

To check if a mulched plant needs water, move some mulch out of the way, to feel the soil beneath.

It is easier to keep the soil topped up little and often. Once the soil has dried out, it is more difficult to wet because the water runs through the gaps in the soil particles. So it takes more water to wet baked-out soil.

It is very difficult to over-water a growing tree, as the water will just drain away.

When wet soil is mulched with lawn clippings, the moisture is retained.
Mulching is the key to a healthy, well-grown tree.

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* Keep the soil around them moist
* Mulch around the base of the tree
* Check the stake is secure so that the tree does not rock and dislodge its roots
* Heel the tree in again. To heel in, press the soil down around the roots with the heel of the foot. This will ensure root to soil contact.

When the tree is planted in wet soil, the disturbed soil will dry out and shrink. The soil then becomes loose. Then the roots are not in sufficient contact with the soil to take up sufficient moisture.

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    * Leaves can be browsed during the growing season, or buds and twigs
      chewed off during the winter.

holly-damage-by-deer

    * Bark can be stripped, normally during winter and spring, when
      other food is scarce. If bark is removed all the way around the
      stem, the tree will die, because the bark is needed to transport
      the water and food to the whole tree (in the phloem and xylem.)
    * The main shoot is eaten, so the tree will not grow straight, &
      will start to branch and bush out.

Guards are used to protect young trees from rabbits & other animals

spiral-tree-guard

Made from a special plastic that will stand up to animals, weather and
strimmers etc.
These are designed to protect young trees against bark-stripping by
rabbits and voles. Quick and simple to install, being simply wound
around the stem of the tree. Push the end into the ground around the
base of the tree, to lessen the chance of the wind or animals dislodging it.

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squirell

Grey Squirrels cause considerable damage to young trees.

Squirrel damage is caused by:

    * gnawing the bark of trees. If a complete ring of bark disappears,
      the tree will die. This is because the food and water are
      transported up and down the tree in the bark – in the phloem and
      xylem. If the bark is removed, the tree starves to death because
      the transport links are broken.
    * damaging the growing tip of the tree. This causes loss of apical
      dominance, resulting in the tree becoming multi-stemmed, & loosing
      form.
    * wounding the surface of the tree, which allows infections to
      enter, causing disease and decay

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growing-figs

A fig tree in the garden produces figs  over quite a long period, and they are delicious.

The figs change colour as they ripen, going from green to a very dark  purple.

fig

The fig fruit becomes softer to touch when it is ready for eating.

ripening-figs

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The Mulberry has just started to break its buds. It is not unusual for newly planted trees to have a slow start. The roots will be slowly developing in their new home.

The tree has been mulched with grass clippings, which can be seen at the base of the tree.

mulched mulberry

mulched-mulberry

The tree is being kept moist by watering when necessary. The next job is to give it a decent stake, to anchor it firmly in the ground, and to help the Mulberry Tree grow straight.

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