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Come learn how to properly prune apple trees for free with expert Mark Simmonds!

Join us for a free apple tree pruning course with Mark Simmonds at Callis Community Gardens! Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this event is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about caring for apple trees. Mark will share his expert tips and tricks to help your trees thrive. Don’t miss out on this hands-on learning opportunity in a beautiful garden setting.

Please note this a free event but spaces are limited – please book your ticket if you wish to attend.

The day will start at noon with a workshop session where Mark will guide you through the process and explain the techniques. We will then break for lunch after which you will be able to take part in a pratical session pruning the trees around the garden.

The event is organised by Callis Community Gardens Charitable Incorporated Organisation – Registered Charity Number 1207268

Our project was made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players

We have limited parking so please travel by foot, bicycle or bus.

To Book please use this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-apple-tree-pruning-course-with-mark-simmonds-tickets-1921357675529?aff=oddtdtcreator

Come along and pick apples – we have lots of varieties of cooking and eating apples – and take them home with you! Please wear suitable footwear. The gardens are located on the canal towpath at Callis Bridge, Charlestown. All welcome, dogs and children must be supervised.

Please come by foot unless you have mobility issues since there is very limited parking.

There will be a community apple pressing day at The Blue Pig, Midgehole on Saturday 11th October 1-4pm so you could take your apples along and get some juice!

We will be pruning and weaving the willow hedge, and also siting a number of beautiful bird boxes, kindly made and donated by the very talented Natasha Brown of Calderdale College. Wear boots and bring food to share (hot drinks provided). All welcome.

We welcomed the cyclists to Callis with complementary mocktails brewed by the very talented mixologist Neil. Simon played some tunes on the sound system and everyone had a great time. We hope to repeat the event again next year. Thanks to everyone who came.

Our project was made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players

To celebrate Pride we will be playing some lovely music and serving mocktails in the garden this Sunday from noon. We will be cheering on the P-ride bike ride as they pass by on their way to Todmorden. Join us in the garden or go for the ride from Hebden this Sunday. We hope to welcome you for a relaxing afternoon of music and social. All welcome – bring food and drink to share.

Gardening day Sunday 4th May 2025 @ 12pm – 4pm. Wear boots and bring refreshments.

After an application process Google have kindly given us free Google Workspace for our emails and £10,000 worth of free advertising credit, Workspace would be over £50 per month for our organisation so this is a good turn 🙂

We will use this to boost the events we have planned over the next few months.

We invite you to the garden on 27th April 2025 at 3pm – 4pm. At the meeting you can join our charitable incorporated organisation as a member which means you can take part in the decision making process. We want to hear how you think the garden should be used and your ideas for workshops, events and improvements to the space. The agenda shall be:

1. Welcome – brief explanation of the project so far
2. Signage – from our online survey we have identified that many people want to see better signage around the garden. So bring ideas about how you think we can implement that.
3. Open forum – ideas for workshops, events and improvements to the garden
4. Any other business
5. Please fill in a membership form if you want to join so we have your details. Membership is free.

We aim to wrap the meeting up within 1 hour and then we can have a more informal discussion after.

Wear suitable clothing as the meeting will be outdoors. We have a couple of large gazebos if the weather is inclement – it is Yorkshire!

We look forward to meeting you in person.

People are the roots of this project

As winter fades away the hedge laying we did earlier in the year is beginning to look stunning with new growth flourishing.

We will be holding a series of workshops next winter (2025-2026) and inviting you to come and join us to learn how you can crate your own living hedge. Please get in touch if you are interested in joining the workshop. Dates will be announced in due course. Keep an eye on our website and social media for the announcement.

Here are a couple of photos of the living hedge we have cultivated.

We were donated some 12 foot pallets so we decided to upcycle them into garden benches which we have placed near the towpath for canal walkers to take a rest on and have their lunch.

You can see a few photos of what we built below.