After weeks of preparation, the Werribee Park Heritage Orchard Summer Fruit Tree Festival will return on Sunday March 2.
This festival is one of the largest fruit tree gatherings in Australia. It is a day to celebrate growing fruit trees and preserving heritage varieties.
At the main stage, Craig Castree holds grafting demonstrations and answers all the gardening questions. Heritage fruit workshops will be held, and visitors will be able to taste fruit picked from the orchard.
Rare and heritage fruiting plants and trees will be available to purchase to start or complement your own collection. There are pruning demonstration to show you how to look after your fruit trees. You can walk through the orchard on a guided tour and hear about its journey over the last few years. You can also join the Werribee River keeper for a tour along the river, listen to talks from Werribeeks on beekeeping or learn how to create worm farms by Wormlovers.
Enjoy live music, watch the blacksmith at work, grab a bite to eat, and browse the stalls selling all things gardening and more. Be inspired by the thriving community gardens and explore the historic buildings dating back to the 1800s with visits from Friends of Werribee Park (in farm attire).
All activities are free, with a gold coin donation for parking.’
The Orchard dates back to the 1870’s when Thomas Chirnside started planting his orchard on a significant scale.
In partnership with Parks Victoria, a community group was formed in 2010 to look after the orchard. The WPHO is run solely by volunteers and provides horticultural training in preserving, growing and selling rare and heritage fruit trees. New volunteers are always welcome, no experience required.
To become a volunteer, register with ParkConnect – www.parkconnect.vic.gov.au/Account/Login/Register
