Out & About January 2017

enjoy the fruit trees that grow untended in the rural and urban landscape. It discusses the history and culture of fruit and how it has moved across the world, and it talks about how we got to where we are now. But the most important thing is that it takes the simple ‘five trees is an orchard’ idea and rolls it out in such a way that virtually anyone can have an orchard of their own, or access to one. It means that feral trees in the landscape can be defined as an informal orchard, as can an ultra- formal arrangement of potted and trained trees in a tiny courtyard – and everything in between. They can be relevant and accessible again. And each newly-planted or rediscovered orchard can help feed the family, support wildlife, keeping alive a sense of place and allow one to explore exquisite and unusual flavours. It enables local varieties to be preserved and it has huge implications for community cohesion. It is not so much a gardening book per se, more the first step on a journey – that of the reader. While it is informed by my own experiences and journeys, the aim is to open people’s eyes and enable them to feel confident about tasting the fruit off that stray tree, starting a community orchard – or counting the fruit trees in their garden and that of the neighbours, and revel in the knowledge that they may have been living in an orchard all along, hidden in plain sight. Ultimately, it will inspire the reader to take a new look at their garden and their landscape, and, I hope, herald a new dawn for fruit enthusiasm and ownership.

Walnut tree

An Orchard Odyssey by Naomi Slade is published by Green Books, £24.99 Signed copies are available from

Waterstones, Newbury www.naomislade.com @naomislade

A patchwork orchard in Newbury back gardens

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