News from Transition Town Llandeilo

Reviving apple production in the Tywi valley

Afallon Teilo is a new Transition Town group that has come together to encourage local people to grow more apples and to eat locally grown fruit. We were inspired by research showing that the Towy valley area was once known for its spring blossom with over 100 orchards shown on the 1905 OS map between Llandovery and Llandeilo. There are three historical varieties of apple tree local to Dinefwr alone. And Saint Teilo, after whom the town is named, is called the patron saint of apples.

The group is in the process of setting up an orchard near Llandeilo, and this will be a community orchard where people can sponsor trees as well as get involved in the orchard activities and events. Courses on sustainable orchard planting and maintenance will be run from there to encourage local landowners and farmers to plant more trees and it will be used as an educational resource for local school children. The orchard will also be a commercial one, producing eating apples to sell locally, as well as juice and cider.

We are collecting information on what orchards exist in the area around Llandeilo and whether they have surplus fruit. Please share any info you have on this. We are also looking for people who want to get involved in the project, from the practical aspects of planting to organising events. We meet every month. Please contact us for more information.

There will be a talk by local apple expert Paul Davies of Dolau Hirion Fruit Trees at the Civic Hall, Llandeilo 7.30pm, Thursday May 29th.

Later on in the year we hope to organise planting days, and in the autumn have an Apple Day in Llandeilo where your apple varieties can be identified, traditional apple products can be sampled, recipes shared and traditional apple activities enjoyed.

Further information from Isabel Lovelock at foxcoop@googlemail.com or tel. 01558-668013.

Contacting Transition Town Llandelio

Please see the website at www.transitiontownllandeilo.org.uk, email Steve.TL2@btinternet.com or tel 01550-777805 for further details.