Tree Pruning Workshop at Dibbinsdale

Looking carefully before pruning the Bramley tree

planted by Alison McGovern MP and Stephen Ross in 2021.

We had an excellent training day on pruning fruit trees on 25th November, led by Katie Tonge of Heathfield Orchards. Katie talked us through the things to think about, then we went out for practical demonstrations and to try our own hand, in the walled garden at Dibbinsdale.

The tree before pruning (Katie Tonge in the baseball cap).

In the process the six apple trees we planted for Wirral Wildlife's 50th birthday in 2021 were given expert pruning to train their shape as they mature. Several members of the Friends of Dibbinsdale were left with guidance on what to do with the plum trees, come spring, and how to set about some of the older trees that have been neglected for the last few years through the pandemic.

"Yes, I really do mean take that much off"

If you have or are thinking about starting a community orchard, we can recommend booking a workshop with Katie to learn how to prune them to get a crop and to benefit wildlife. Thank you to Wirral Borough Council for use of the walled garden, Ste Smith, the Ranger, and the Friends of Dibbinsdale for hosting us.

Pete does the next cut.

Hilary Ash

The High Sheriff, The MP and The Trees

Alison McGovern MP planting a tree

Tree Planting to celebrate Wirral Wildlife’s 50th Birthday

Wirral Wildlife were delighted to celebrate their 50th Anniversary on a fine autumnal day on 20th November at Brotherton Park, part of Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve. The High Sheriff of Merseyside, Nigel Lanceley, and Alison McGovern MP kindly attended our celebration.

The High Sheriff of Merseyside, Nigel Lanceley, gives a speech.

We were heartened by the presence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, so many friends from related organisations and long serving volunteers spanning all the activities in which we engage. The chairman outlined the history of the group and gave thanks for the efforts made by the founders and all current supporters. The High Sheriff stressed how prestigious is the award of the QAVS. The key issue being the way we engage with disadvantaged groups in an inclusive way and seek to assist the cause of wildlife generally.

A female black poplar was planted by the High Sheriff in Brotherton Park. It was he who had processed our nomination for the QAVS, so it was a particular pleasure that he was able to attend. Thereafter we planted six varieties of Cheshire apple trees in the Walled Garden (see details below).

Cutting the cake with a billhook!

Then the High Sheriff and Alison McGovern MP cut the anniversary cake with a polished bill hook, before distributing slices on the end of his sword. Tea and cake were enjoyed by all our guests.

Handing out slices of cake on the end of the High Sheriff's sword.

Thank you to everyone who attended to make the occasion such a special celebration. 

This is a list of the trees we planted and who helped:

• Black Poplar: (female tree, clone 32, raised by Chester Zoo) planted next to the two male trees planted in Brotherton Park for our 40th birthday). Planted by High Sheriff, Nigel Lanceley.

Bella Smallthwaite planting a traditional apple tree variety

• Six Apple trees were planted in the Walled Garden.

1. Bramley. Cooker. (Donated by Friends of Dibbinsdale to mark Wirral Wildlife’s 50th birthday). Supplied by Morrey’s Nursery, Kelsall.

The Friends told us “Happy Birthday to Wirral Wildlife. We look forward to continue working cooperatively with you in future years”. 

Planted by Alison McGovern MP, Stephen Ross (Chair of Wirral Wildlife), with help from Steve Yandell (chair, Wirral Countryside Volunteers) and Tim Gannicliffe (WW recorder).

2. Millicent Barnes. Dessert.

Planted by Bella Smallthwaite helped by Ron Warne (Friends of Dibbinsdale and recorder) and Paul Loughnane (reserves manager, NFBP and Thornton Wood).

3. Eccleston Pippin. Dual purpose.

Planted by representatives of the Wirral Wildlife recording team: Mike Inger, Sheila Ross, Elina Doss (who also works for Record local records centre).

4. Rival. Dessert.

Planted by David Parker (DECG), Tom McCullough (warden Foxes Wood and Tom’s Paddock) and Steve Lyus (chair, New Ferry Butterfly Park).

5. Bee Bench. Dual purpose.

Planted by young volunteers Mairead Corr and Maddy Green, helped by Pete Miller (chair, Friends of Dibbinsdale).

6. Ashmead’s Kernel. Dessert.

Planted by Elaine Mills in memory of Frank Cottrell (former chairman), helped by Lesley Brockbank (Wirral & Cheshire Badger Group) and Eric Greenwood (retired from Liverpool World Museum and botanical expert).

Trees 2-6 were raised and supplied by Katie Tonge (Heathfield Orchard, Chester). All are varieties traditionally grown in Cheshire.

The High Sheriff of Merseyside with the planted black poplar,
a contribution to the Queen's Green Canopy project.

Dr Hilary Ash registered our black poplar and apples as a contribution to the Queen’s Green Canopy project (QGC). This is a tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

We received this acknowledgement.

 “We are delighted to confirm your Jubilee tree planting has been uploaded to The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) map. Thank you for your contribution to this special initiative, which we hope will inspire countless others. With your support we are creating a greener UK and a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the nation, which will benefit future generations.

Yours sincerely, The Queen’s Green Canopy”

The High Sheriff also wrote to us.

‘’ I would like to thank you all for the warm welcome and hospitality on Saturday. I was honoured to plant the tree and contribute to the ceremony. I would like to congratulate you again for all the great work that you carry out in Wirral. As residents we all benefit from your commitment. Please pass on my regards and best wishes to the team and if I can help again please do not hesitate to contact me. I think it is a great compliment to the group that you have reached the ripe old age of fifty. This means that you are still very important in our communities and as I said you are vital for the next 50 years.

Thank you again and best wishes,

Nigel’’

There is an album of photographs of the event taken by Richard Ash: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30661871@N03/albums/72157720161168189

Love Where You Live, Hail To The Grafters

Thanks to a grant from the Wirral South ‘Love Where You Live’ fund, Wirral Countryside Volunteers have laid 400m of hedgerow at New Ferry Butterfly Park. These hedges are dense for smaller birds whilst retaining a fair proportion of flowers for insect and later berries for birds. The volunteers have gone one step further by increasing the biodiversity of the hedge bank of the recently laid hedges by plug planting 50 each of primrose, greater switchwort, hedge bedstraw and foxglove into the hedge banks.

Paul Loughnane, honorary secretary of Wirral Countryside Volunteers, said “These flowers, whilst adding colour and interest to the bottom of hedgerow, will be useful for wildlife. “In the coming years the primrose will produce an early nectar source for early emerging butterflies such as the brimstone and later in the season orange tip butterflies will nectar on the greater stitchwort flowers. Hedge bedstraw is the larval food of the common carpet moth and bumble bees will climb right into the purple spikes of foxglove flowers in search of nectar. So many hedge banks have become dull with low biodiversity, but not here.”

The grant also enabled the Volunteers to host on the same day an apple grafting workshop at the park, in conjunction with David Ellwand of Wirral Tree Wardens. Here participants could make their own apple tree of a defined final size with a variety of their choice, which is not the case by growing from seed.

David talked about explained the about the 40 or more local Cheshire and Lancashire apple varieties on offer, whether the variety was cooker, desert or dual, its appearance, its flavour, storage properties and whether it was an early or late cropper. Pencil size diameter tree cuttings called scions were collected in November. David you must have a big fridge! Then David explained about the different dwarfing root stock you can use to determine the final size of the fruit tree.

Despite the weather with vicious hail, 13 people under the shelter of a gazebo grafted apple and pear trees, and about 40 trees were grafted on the day. First we practiced on hazel sticks and then on to grafting scions to the root stocks. Grafting of the scions to the root stock was achieved using the whip-and-tongue groove method and then firmly bound with tape making sure the cambium layers of both knit together so there is a free flow of sap.

The newly created fruit trees will be planted at the park, in local gardens, a new community orchard at Claremont Farm, Clatterbridge and at Christ Church Higher Bebington where they are making the church grounds more ecological. The south Wirral area will be brightened up in a few years time with apple blossom in May. The blossom is good for honeybees and maintains local apple varieties. With 25 participants in total there was certainly a buzz about the park that day.