Cotehele House kicks off tree pruning season
BBCAn historic house's gardens have come alive with activity as the annual tree pruning season begins.
Sharon Jarvis, one of the gardeners at the Cotehele estate in Cornwall, joins the efforts to maintain the health and beauty of the orchards.
With about 80 apple trees in the old garden and an additional 300 trees of 125 varieties in another orchard, the team faces a busy period.
"Cutting to grow," Ms Jarvis explains, emphasising the importance of regular pruning to ensure the long-term vitality of the trees.
The gardeners are careful to remove no more than 20% of each tree's growth, avoiding the risk of over-pruning which can lead to excessive regrowth.
"The worst thing you can do with your apple tree is nothing," said head gardener Dave Bouch.
In addition to pruning, the team is also focused on grafting new trees.
By joining scions to rootstocks with precise cuts and securing them with elastic bands, they ensure the future of the orchards.
"These trees will be here long after I've gone," said Ms Jarvis.
"Knowing that others will enjoy them because of the care I've given, that's important to me."
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