Pruning and restrictive pruning techniques 

Learn to prune with confidence—no experience needed!

Ever looked at your apple tree or shrubs and thought “I should probably prune that… but where do I even start?” You’re not alone! Join us for a relaxed, friendly workshop in our beautiful orchard where we’ll demystify pruning together. This is the perfect session for beginners, hesitant gardeners, or anyone who’s ever felt intimidated by secateurs! We’ll work hands-on with mature apple trees, share tips and stories, and learn by doing—all in a supportive, no-pressure environment where questions are not just welcome, they’re encouraged!

What you’ll learn

Forget stuffy classroom lectures—we’ll be outside in our productive orchard, getting hands-on with real trees while chatting, sharing experiences, and learning together. This informal 2-hour session is as much about building confidence and making connections as it is about mastering pruning techniques.

Pruning fundamentals:

• Why do we prune? Is it actually beneficial to plants?
• What happens if we don’t prune at all?
• How to identify dead wood with confidence
• When to prune in a productive garden setting
• Creating an open framework for healthy trees and shrubs

Hands-on practice:

• Annual pruning techniques for mature apple trees
• Using secateurs and loppers properly (we’ll show you!)
• Regenerative pruning—giving old trees new life
• Removing dead and old wood safely
• Restrictive pruning techniques explained simply
• Planting espalier apple trees together

Tool Skills:

• Which tools to use and when
• How to sharpen your pruning tools
• Caring for your equipment so it lasts

What to Expect

This isn’t a formal “stand and listen” session. We’ll be outdoors, working with trees, having conversations, and learning together. Wear comfortable clothes, bring gardening gloves and secateurs (if you have them) you don’t mind getting a bit dirty, bring your questions (no matter how basic!), and be ready to have a go. Everyone’s welcome, everyone’s learning, and there’s absolutely no such thing as a silly question here.

You’ll leave feeling confident about when and how to prune, understanding your tools better, and maybe having made some new gardening friends along the way!

Workshop details

Grow, Cook, Share, Care is a Hands of Hope programme engaging vulnerable groups, those with complex needs, families, especially those living in food poverty, and older people, in learning, wellness and social activities aligned to growing, cooking, and nature.

Suitable for all. Priority for spaces will be given to people meeting the criteria: aged over 50, young carers and young adults with learning disabilities.

There is no charge for this workshop, donations are always welcome!

Please ensure you arrive ten minutes before the start time to ensure we can get everyone registered. You will need to do one booking per person please so we know who will be attending.