East Malling launches new courses to improve gardening skills
Keen amateur gardeners can learn to dramatically improve their fruit tree cropping at a new one-day pruning course in February, announced by East Malling Short Courses (EMSC). Also new for 2014 is a half-day session from fruit expert, John Easton, on how to identify and control pests and diseases of fruit trees. The importance of following key issues when sowing seeds is the focus of another new course being led by RHS lecturer Tessa Allen.
For the more adventurous amateur gardener there will also be workshops on grafting in March and May. Tuition on how to use a chainsaw safely at home is also available and later in the season, there will be opportunities to learn how to service your own lawn mower.
“It is great to see so many gardeners come to East Malling and learn new skills to take home,” said Course Coordinator Fran Gallwey. She continued, “Reaction to our earlier pruning courses, delivered under the watchful and expert eye of John Easton, has been very positive and EMSC anticipates that demand will be high for the new programme of events.”
All courses are delivered at the Grade 1 listed Bradbourne House, East Malling, with many of the courses taking place in the Hatton Fruit Garden, formerly the kitchen garden, where fruit trees have been trained and pruned over many decades to produce a myriad of designs, including cordons, espaliers, goblets, pyramids, fans, arches, crowns, le bateau and arcure forms.
East Malling Research is synonymous with fruit trees and the courses will give invaluable tips and trade secrets on how to increase fruit yields.
For more details and to book, contact East Malling Short Courses on 01732 523755 or email: short.courses@emr.ac.uk.
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