Orchard Network

Cotehele 

Our Full Bloom Festival opened in the beautiful orchards at Cotehele, near Saltash in Cornwall on the 25th April 2010. Despite the harsh winter stalling the arrival of Spring there was still some 'Full Bloom' to be enjoyed, and plenty of pink and white buds waiting to burst.

Visitors to the 'Old Orchard' were greeted by fluttering brightly coloured paper tags, attached to twisted hazel hoops hung from the trees. This was our 'Offering Verses to the Wind' activity. People were invited to refelct a little on their orchard surroundings or think back to a fond memory. Our Full Bloom poet and artist, Anne-Marie Culhane helped to shape these thoughts in to a simple verse which the author could write down on to the coloured paper and hang them alongside the other offerings - to be read and enjoyed by other visitors. Nestled under a cherry tree in bloom, others joined in at the Renga platform, contributing their verses to our Full Bloom Renga.

The sound of soft music, provided by local band 'Under the Fingers' drew people up in to the Mother Orchard, where a collection of Cornish varieties are being nurtured. Here, children (and some adults!) had their faces painted with spring blossom, or became 'Bee Guardians' for the Global Bee Project - making wild bee houses to take home to encourage these essential pollinators. When the sun shone, Paul Chapman flew his collection of Japanese kites, including an array of buzzing insects. The People's Trust for Endangered Species provided information on the vast amount of wildlife to be found in our orchards, and an impressive collection of live moths were on show - all caught in the orchard the night before by the Cornwall Moth Group. Tools were available to help the Cotehele team plant wildflower plugs in the orchard floor.

Links

People's Trust for Endangered Species

Global Bee Project

Anne-Marie Culhane

Cornwall Moth Group