Birdboxes and Baby Oaks: Hands-On Conservation at Bumper Apple Day Festival

On Saturday the 11th of October we were delighted to be invited to be part of the Apple Day and Green festival at Peace Oak Community Orchard, Eynsham organised by our partners Peace Oak Association and GreenTEA.

NRN plant propagation extraordinaire, Jodie Baker, writes…

The event was very well attended by local families and people of all ages who were wholeheartedly taking part in activities that included willow weaving, wood carving, wool spinning and, of course, all things apple! Apple trees, apple picking, apple identification, apple juicing or simply eating them!

We offered lovely art cards and wildflower seeds for sale, as well as a chance to plant an oak or willow tree to help us start our new wet woodland in the willow coppice on the Neyotts by Eynsham lock.

The star of our show however were Birdboxes! For a small donation to the Nature Recovery Network folk could hammer together a pre-made kit with Colin's help, and they all really enjoyed the process, we'll certainly be making more kits for next year. 

Elsewhere there were plants and apple trees for sale and tables full of conkers for crafting, as well as a walk to find fungi. The plant-based food competition offered up some wonderful vegan recipes for everyone to try and all seemed to be very well received. 

Our sign-up lists were filled with more names of people who will hopefully come and join us in some capacity as we carry on with our plant propagation sessions and our community plant outs. 

Our wonderful supporter, Neves Bees, (aka Julie and Ross Macken) did a roaring trade, raising a whopping £567 which they have generously shared between Peace Oak and Nature Recovery Network. 

The whole afternoon was just lovely and filled with a beautiful autumnal atmosphere with friendly faces and happy children everywhere.

Thanks to everyone that joined us all!