FORTHCOMING EVENTS ​

 

​Wednesday 29th July: SLOG Annual General Meeting at Crook Memorial Hall 7.30pm. Reports from Chairman, Membership Secretary, Treasurer & Web Editor. Elections to these Posts and for Committee Members for 2026/27.  Followed by a Committee meeting (all welcome) Refreshments provided, cakes etc welcome.

Directions: From Plumgarths roundabout at north end of Kendal take B5284 direction Bowness. Proceed  through Crook village, past the Sun Inn, then up the hill and the Hall & carpark is on your left at the top of the hill. Satnav LA8 8LG.

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Saturday 8th August: SLOG Summer Pruning & Budding Workshop, Growing Well, Sizergh LA8 8AE 2.00–4.30pm. Meet at the Yurts at 2pm for a demonstration of budding onto apple rootstocks which is the technique favoured by commercial nurseries for fruit tree propagation. You can then have a go with M26 rootstocks. Bring your own Stanley knife or similar (a few will be provided) and gardening gloves for protection. Bring a bag to carry away your budded tree(s). Wear suitable footwear as the path to the yurts may be muddy.  SLOG grafting knives will be available for anybody who does not have their own. We will then move on to Growing Well’s collection of cordon trees to demonstrate and practice summer pruning which is an essential technique for management of all restricted forms of fruit trees. Free to SLOG members, no need for advance booking. Directions: From M6 junction 36 go 4 miles on A591 towards Kendal, then A590 Barrow, then shortly on right follow brown signs for Sizergh Castle, then Low Sizergh Barn. From Kendal go 3½ miles south on the A591 then just before the A590 interchange turn left into the car park at Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop and Tearooms. Park at the far end of the car park and walk over the fields. Rootstocks £2.50 each. Finish by 4.30pm.

 

 

Saturday 15th August: SLOG Orchard Working Party. from 10am. All the trees in the SLOG orchard are cordons which means summer pruning is essential to manage their shape. Bring your own secateurs if you have them but SLOG secateurs & loppers will be available. We usually finish around noon.

Directions: The SLOG orchard is in Kendal on the Underley Road Allotments, situated between Underley Road & Hallgarth Circle just east of Windermere Road. The south entrance is off Underley Road from where a narrow green lane leads to a gate on your left which opens directly into the orchard. Car parking is also available just off Hallgarth Circle. Nearby postcode for satnav LA9 5ET

Newly Grafted Trees: For members who grafted new trees in spring this year, now is the time to remove the grafting tape, insert a cane into the pot and tie in the extension growth to protect it against the wind. Any growth from the rootstock should be removed and just the one strongest new growing stem should be present, any weaker ones rubbed off.

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Fruit Thinning: If you have a good crop of apples, they may require thinning now that June drop has completed. This is more relevant to younger & trained trees than older trees - reduce fruit per blossom truss to not more than one per truss for cookers and one or two for eaters, by removing the most cracked, scabbed or insect damaged fruitlets, leaving the best fruit to ripen.

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Hackman Multi-purpose steam juice extractor - offer
One of our members in Windermere has a steam juice extractor that she would like to pass on to someone who would like to have it. If you would like to see a video of how to use this to give you an idea of how it works, there are plenty on YouTube, here is an example: SteamJuicer - How to Use (click here)
A donation to SLOG would be appreciated.
If you are interested, please contact Debbie on 015394 88261.

 

Apple Press Hire: The Spiedel Mill & Hydropress kit will again be based at Mike Gibson’s Tarnside Farm, Crosthwaite. To book, email Mike at mgibson231@btinternet.com or phone 015395 68639 with your requested date(s) and quote your SLOG membership number.

The Rack & Cloth press is managed by Dick Palmer. To book, email Dick at dickrhonapalmer@gmail.com or phone 01229 716095.

Apple Pressing Dates: 

Saturday 26th September 10am – 3pm Members Apple Pressing at Halecat, Witherslack. Book time slots with Dick Palmer (details above).
Saturday 3rd October 11am – 3pm Ford Park Apple Day (including pressing), Ulverston.

Sunday 4th October 10am – 3.30pm Beetham Nursery Apple Weekend including pressing, apple identification & advice.

Sunday 11th October 11am – 4pm NT Acorn Bank apple identification & technical advice.

Sunday 18th October Leighton Hall Apple Day

Saturday 24th October 12 noon – 4pm Sedbergh Apple Day including pressing, apple identification & advice

Saturday 24th October 10am – 3pm Hest Bank Apple pressing, email Moyna Hargest for a time slot: emoynah@gmail.com 

Sunday 1st November 10am – 3pm Members Apple Pressing at Sprint Mill, Burneside. Book time slots with Andy Gilchrist.