If you have a green thumb, are an aspiring gardener– or just really love fruit trees– then there’s an event for you.
The much-loved Summer Fruit Tree Festival will burst into life on Sunday 1 March at Werribee Park.
The free, family-friendly event celebrates the art of growing fruit and protecting rare and heritage varieties.
Gardeners of all levels will find plenty to enjoy, from hands-on demonstrations to tastings straight from the orchard.
On the main stage, well-known horticulturist Craig Castree will share his signature method that combines regenerative agriculture and horticulture with practical, backyard food growing.
Other presenters will cover topics such as using rose hips, citrus pests and diseases, indigenous revegetation project planning and keeping bees.
Visitors can also take part in heritage fruit workshops, learn pruning techniques, and discover how to care for their own trees.
Guided tours will offer insight into the orchard’s development over recent years, while those keen to explore further can join the Werribee River Keeper for a walk along the river.
Talks on beekeeping and worm-farm creation add to the day’s learning opportunities.
For anyone looking to start or expand a backyard orchard, a range of rare and heritage fruiting plants and trees will be available for purchase.
Visitors can also sample fruit picked fresh from the orchard.
The festival atmosphere is rounded out with live music, blacksmith demonstrations, food stalls and market stands offering gardening and lifestyle products.
All activities are free, with a gold-coin donation for parking.
Run entirely by volunteers, the Werribee Park Heritage Orchard (WPHO) provides hands-on horticultural training in preserving, growing and selling rare and heritage fruit trees.
