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Fruit Trees for free - with conditions

This seems to be an annual event by the Somerset Cider makers Thatchers.
If you run a community orchard or would like to start one, fruit for food cupboards and the like they give away 50 fruit trees a year.


You need to read it more throughly to see what trees (I'm thinking it's not Cider apples ;-) and what intend.
If you've missed this year then it happens each year apparantly.

Farway also has noted this on a smaller scale issued by some local councils I think. Hopefully he will post the details.

It would be a nice thing to start the new year off, more real fruit trees growing. Blossom for polinators, trees for nesting and of course, fresh fruit for free which is a whole different flavour to the supermarket ones.
And some you can keep in store, fresh all winter without the chemical waxing.

You could even start your own Wassail :D
We've had more villages start this tradition around here in the New Year - as well as Apple Days in autumn.

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Comments

  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,480 Ambassador
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    What an excellent idea!   

    Tried to have a look on their website but can't see an active link to get to an application form.  Just the one for applications that ended last Feb.  Any help with this would be most appreciated!!!
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

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  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 14,173 Forumite
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    edited 27 December 2024 pm31 3:09PM
    twopenny said:
    This seems to be an annual event by the Somerset Cider makers Thatchers.
    If you run a community orchard or would like to start one, fruit for food cupboards and the like they give away 50 fruit trees a year.


    You need to read it more throughly to see what trees (I'm thinking it's not Cider apples ;-) and what intend.
    If you've missed this year then it happens each year apparantly.

    Farway also has noted this on a smaller scale issued by some local councils I think. Hopefully he will post the details.

    It would be a nice thing to start the new year off, more real fruit trees growing. Blossom for polinators, trees for nesting and of course, fresh fruit for free which is a whole different flavour to the supermarket ones.
    And some you can keep in store, fresh all winter without the chemical waxing.

    You could even start your own Wassail :D
    We've had more villages start this tradition around here in the New Year - as well as Apple Days in autumn.
    Here are the details from my local council, note it is local East Hants and not nationwide
    I can't see a closing date, but collection is 22 Feb and numbers are limited
    I’ve got another apple [had apple + cherry last year] and a Filbert on order

    Worth asking around your areas, or maybe sowing the idea to local green group or similar for 2025 / 26 ?
    Application here



    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 14,173 Forumite
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    Brie said:
    What an excellent idea!   

    Tried to have a look on their website but can't see an active link to get to an application form.  Just the one for applications that ended last Feb.  Any help with this would be most appreciated!!!
    'ere U go, cribbed from Somerset web site

    The trees have been selected for easy growing and minimum upkeep, including varieties such as Bramley, Scrumptious, Dabinett, and Katy.

    Applications open on December 26, 2024, and run until January 31, 2025.

    To apply, visit the Thatchers Cider website and fill in the form, detailing your organisation and how the orchard will benefit your group or community.



    I can thoroughly recommend the Scrumptious variety
    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,480 Ambassador
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    Thanks Farway.  Not sure what's happening but after the initial click the next page is an error.  Maybe they're already sold out??

    Wondering what a scrumptious is like.  Not being a brit I miss my home apple varieties that are almost never available in this country.  Like Macs or Swayzes - good sharp crisp apples that are nice eaters but better cookers and will last til spring time.  I've come across Empires occasionally but not in the last decade at least.  Most of what's sold seems to be mushy eaters, sweet but with little flavour.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,853 Forumite
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    The problem with one of our local old orchards is that with more people arriving from the city than locals now is that they don't understand picking apples.
    They tried supplying the local farm shop and to buy on Apple Day but the village has a 'day to pick' and did all varieties so that's to suit people not the fruit :/
    Result is that they are mostly underripe so don't sell. Not sure if anyone has told them.

    An apple is ripe for picking as I was taught, is to lift it gently. If it snaps off more or less of it's own accord it's ready.
    If it needs twisting and turning etc then it is not ready to be picked and can damage the tree.

    Picked and unblemished Bramleys I used to store in fish trays, no paper but not touching. Lasted till March so were there as and when you wanted them.
    Windfalls for chutney and freezing etc.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 34,462 Forumite
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    One of our local community orchards has failed to pick any fruit for years because it is removed before being even ripe. They spoke to a guy carrying 2 carriers bags full the other year and explained that the fruit weren't yet ripe. "well, my horse likes them as they are."

    General ignorance is rife even on allotments, let alone gardens. People try to store Discovery and get upset. Others taste Kidd's Orange Red in October, find it foul and give up or worse grub out the tree.

    And tastes are dictated by supermarkets, light sweet eaters that are provided crisp and have thin skins. Nothing with much flavour. Bramley is a travesty, picked unripe, nitrogen stored, and sold green. 

    OK a lot of people don't have easy cool storage, but understanding that White Transparent is edible for c3 weeks from mid Julyish and Relinda isn't edible until March goes a long way.

    Hopefully, Thatchers' have chosen varieties with a range of eating seasons. Dabinett by the way is a cider apple. Katy a decent red eater in October, with a light modern flavour.
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 13,480 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    RAS said:
    One of our local community orchards has failed to pick any fruit for years because it is removed before being even ripe. They spoke to a guy carrying 2 carriers bags full the other year and explained that the fruit weren't yet ripe. "well, my horse likes them as they are."

    General ignorance is rife even on allotments, let alone gardens. People try to store Discovery and get upset. Others taste Kidd's Orange Red in October, find it foul and give up or worse grub out the tree.

    And tastes are dictated by supermarkets, light sweet eaters that are provided crisp and have thin skins. Nothing with much flavour. Bramley is a travesty, picked unripe, nitrogen stored, and sold green. 

    OK a lot of people don't have easy cool storage, but understanding that White Transparent is edible for c3 weeks from mid Julyish and Relinda isn't edible until March goes a long way.

    Hopefully, Thatchers' have chosen varieties with a range of eating seasons. Dabinett by the way is a cider apple. Katy a decent red eater in October, with a light modern flavour.
    My mom had a couple of "transparent" trees and she would make a lovely apple pie with them.  Works as as being so very thin skinned there was no need to pare the apples - just cut them very thinly and then layer in the pie shell.  Unfortunately the trees have not lasted (short life span compared to others).  
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
  • Farway
    Farway Posts: 14,173 Forumite
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    This may be of interest, “patio” fruit trees offer from T & M
     One per customer
     Conference pear + Braeburn apple, both for £10

    2 Bare Root Trees (Height 1.2m, 1 of each variety)

    Offer ends midnight, 31st December 2024 or while stocks last.

    Limited to 1 per order. Normal delivery charges apply.

    Use order code TM_TN5561W.

    Delivery is £7.99 BTW, 
    I've put Patio in " because if left unpruned or not trained these will eventually be about ten feet high, a bit more for the pear



    Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 6,853 Forumite
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    Wow some great information here :)

    Ras that is terrible :/  What is it with people these days when there's more quick information available than ever before and they don't bother to look for it :# 
    Not having an established Bramley at my new house I've found a way with the supermarket ones. Store them in a bowl with a banana and allow to ripen slowly. You do have to watch that they don't 'go over' but the cooking and taste is fairly normal. Lacks the heavenly taste of fresh but it's nice enough.

    I know that citrus is stored for up to 2yrs so no goodness, olives are in tanks of acid to make them black and supermarket tomatoes have only 30% of goodness of home grown. Veg looses it's vitamins fast as they are stored.
    Thought I'd bung that in for good measure ;)

    Brie I've never heard of transparant apples but that's interesting about the pies. I'm going to read up on that.

    Farway, thanks for that, that's good news for me I think. I've pretty much decided that with our current climate, townies moving into villages don't grow veg let alone sell it at the roadside - I could do with less flowers and more fruit and veg.
    Being a tiny garden with 5 fruit trees already patio would be good.
    They haven't bought out any that are squirel proof have they?

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

    viral kindness .....kindness is contageous pass it on

    The only normal people you know are the ones you don’t know very well


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