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Tablehurst Orchard is based near East Grinstead in East Sussex. Tablehurst Orchard rents 16 acres of land from Tablehurst Farm. On the 16 acres we have 36000 apple trees, some strawberry plants, vines, and a small flock of geese for Christmas. The 16 acres of land are divided in 2 parts: an upper and lower orchard. The lower orchard is 9 acres of land and the main variety is Jonagold the pollinators are Elstar, Idared and Early Winsor. The main varieties on the upper orchard (5 acres of land) are Elstar and Jonagold.

Beside those orchards we own 14 acres of land, which is devided in 10 acres with apple trees and 4 acres are planted with red currants. In the near future we will buy another 7 acres of land next to the 14 acres of land.

Tablehurst orchard is a biodynamic orchard, being a biodynamic orchard isn’t always easy, but it is worth so much. Non organic farmers have quite simple answers when they have problems with pest and diseases. As a biodynamic farmer you have limited pest and disease control, you need to think of other solutions to reach a good quality.

A couple of these solutions are the geese in the orchard, compost under the trees, the trees are planted intensively; this is because pruning is easier, as well as harvesting, the trees dry quicker after rain (less moults) and the apples never hang on the inside and it’s known that the apples on the outside are the best ones.

In the near future we’ll start a project named “Adopt an apple tree”. This project has two main goals, one is to help us grow and therefor to stimulate the biodynamic agriculture in general. The second one is to let people make contact with nature in a very subtle way.

The general idea is that anyone can adopt an apple tree (or more off course), and it can be adopted for two years. Over these two years you have four days where you can come an visit the farm and off course pay a visit to your apple tree(s). The second year you will get the harvest of your own adopted tree(s).

When the project starts we will add an online registration form to our website, so you can adopt an apple tree via our website. Until then you can contact us at any time of you have any questions regarding our project “Adopt an apple tree” or if you want te keep informed about this project.