Backyard Fruit Tree Care & Pruning Workshops

Tackling a local biosecurity issue in an engaging way

Backyard Fruit Tree Care & Pruning Workshops

Tackling a local biosecurity issue in an engaging way

Making a Difference -

LLCI011-003

The issue

Backyard fruit trees are an immensely valuable community resource, but unmanaged they can also be seen as a great burden to the community and the horticulture industry.

The onus on fruit fly management in the general community has shifted in recent years from a Government managed biosecurity issue to a Local Government issues and now to individual responsibilty.

However approaching the general community to talk 'biosecurity' is often difficult to gain a captive audience. Furthermore the impacts of unmanaged fruit fly within the community can have further reaching consequences to commercial horticultural industry.

So the challenge became how to get people to care about a locally relevant biosecurity issues in an engaging way.

The solution

In collaboration with a neighboring Local Landcare Coordinator we developed a workshop with the simple notion that better cared for backyard fruit trees will have a reduced risk of being fruit fly havens.

So we enlisted the skills of Nicholas Gerhard from Soil by Design to run a workshop that centered around how and when to prune, healthy soil for healthy and productive fruit trees and general fruit tree hygiene (which included a conversation on how to identify fruit fly and strategies for natural control).

The workshop suited those looking to plant orchards and those who have established trees or orchards in their backyards. The main aim was to provide participants with simple practical skills to get the job done.

The impact

The workshops were are huge success!

Not only did participants leave with new found skills and knowledge to effectively care for their fruit trees for better health and glorious fruit (or wondrous summer shade), but the passive approach to addressing fruit fly in the community allowed for open conversations to occur without fear of retribution.

Key facts

  • 28 people in attendance at Temora workshop
  • 20 people in attendance at West Wyalong workshop
  • Attendees left the workshop armed with practical skills and knowledge to effectively care for their backyard fruit trees

Project Partners