Monday 9th March 2020
The apple – we’re all very familiar with this staple fruit and many of us eat them regularly: Whether in a hearty comforting crumble, alongside our roast pork or simply as a healthy snack (1 a day will keep the doctor away after all). The apple is woven into the legends and history of the western counties of England, where the cider maker’s art is still revered, and the growing of apples is treated with the greatest respect.
Our friends at Octopus Energy love trees and have their own scheme to support the planting of them throughout the UK. We’re working with them to plant an orchard here in the valley, on the site of a lost orchard where only a couple of ancient trees remain.
Orchards have disappeared from the British landscape over the last 100 years, as imported apples have become more available and the demand for British apples has lessened. The trees in the orchard will not only absorb carbon and give out oxygen but will also support habitats for our wildlife – small birds, insects and voles to name a few.
We decided to get some of our staff out of the office on a very rainy Wednesday morning, to help plant the trees and get our orchard re-instated! They returned at lunchtime, ready for a hot cup of tea and just a little bit muddy!
As well as planting trees together, Octopus have also given us 10,000 fruit trees for Yeo customers to plant at home. To be in with a chance of winning your own young tree, or even to win the main prize of a brand new Telsa electric car, find out more about our competition here – https://octopusenergy.yeovalley.co.uk/
We’ll keep you updated on the progress of our new orchard as it matures. We can’t wait!
Great to see more trees planted to combat de-
forestation.
Wonderful News. Be quick + plant plenty whilst we’re in planting season! We, as a nation, need to replant our forests and re-embrace nature. The need is now and the call is growing.
That is such a great action planting/renewing the apple orchard. And more to come on your current property. Excellent.
Good to hear you are planting the apple trees. I have Octopus as my power supplier and it is good to know they are helping you.
Best regards, Howard Bairstow
Don’t forget to have some bee hives to pollinate and make wonderful organic honey.
Best of luck
Wonderful idea. Every evening between 6at 8 o’clock I have an apple, have done sine I was a teenager and am now 78
Delighted to read your Blog. Trees give us so much.We lost trees, orchards and hedges due to the policy of grubbing up for so long. Congratulations, well done Octopus and Yeo Valley for bringing back what was lost From small acorns!!! Beryl
Trust you have planted some of the older varieties of English apples which are in danger of being lost to cultivation.
That is a great thing to be doing – supporting wildlife, bringing back tradition…. and it will be beautiful!
nice site keep up the good work