December Art at The Orchard ~ Richard Carrier

We're delighted to welcome our month of March artist, Richard Carrier, back to The Orchard Tea Room with an exhibition of  original wildfowl  paintings previously exhibited in Canterbury plus new acrylic on paper paintings depicting our orchard throughout the seasons.

Do pop in and take a look, it's a free art show and we're open daily 10am-4pm.

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop
Redmoor Lane
Wisbech
Cambs
PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184

Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Sponsor a Bramley Apple Tree 2017

In our eight acre orchard we have a large number of traditional old Bramley apple trees planted in the early twentieth century.  Although the trees are healthy and fruit producing they are not commercially viable due to changes in market conditions and the high costs of maintaining such large old trees. These days most orchard fruit is grown in intensive commercial orchards on semi-dwarf rootstock with trees planted close to one another in herbicide treated rows rather than in traditional orchards such as ours.

But traditional orchards and these old Bramley apple trees are incredibly important from an ecological and biodiversity point of view. They provide habitat for thousands of insects, mammals and birds, bryophytes (mosses & liverworts), lichens, invertebrates and fungi many of which have high conservation priorities.

For those of you who would like to help conserve our Bramley apple trees for future generations we are offering the opportunity to Sponsor a Bramley Apple Tree on an annual basis. Sponsoring one of our trees is a great way to find out more about fruit growing and biodiversity rich traditional orchards. You can purchase sponsorship for yourself or as a gift.

Sponsorship of a Bramley Apple Tree with fruit  includes:

• A certificate of sponsorship
• A monthly photograph of the Bramley trees sent direct to your email
• A quarterly newsletter updating you on what's happening in the orchard sent direct to your email

The cost of annual sponsorship without fruit is £12 per tree

Sponsoring one of our Bramley apple trees is easy, simply email us your name, address and email address and we'll send you a invoice. Payment can be made using debit or credit card, via PayPal, cheque or if you prefer you can pop into The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop and pay cash. Once payment has been received your certificate of sponsorship will be posted to you or your chosen recipient.

Click here to email us 

The Orchard, Redmoor Lane, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 0RN.

Preparing the Christmas Pudding Party for Dogs

The Barking Bugle's News Editor and journalist, Josef and Emma Teckel have been frightfully busy organizing the Christmas Pudding Pawty for dogs to be held here at The Orchard Tea Room On Saturday 3rd December:

They personally checked out the orchard walk whilst giving instructions to their human assistant Diana Bailey with regard to the Christmas Pawty Treasure Hunt.

There has been much wrapping of parcels for the Doggy Dip.

And on top of all that Josef and Emma have been busy trying on costumes for 

the Best Dressed Pooch and Pal competition

and

the Best Christmas Costume competition

it's really been quite exhausting for Josef and Emma but they don't mind as it's all for a great cause 

Wonky Pets Rescue

A Christmas Pudding Party for Dogs

Calling dog lovers, you're all invited to The Barking Bugle's

Christmas Pudding Pawty for Dogs

on

Saturday 3rd December 11am - 1pm

here at

The Orchard Tea Room

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE140RN

The Pawty has been organised by Josef and Emma Teckel, The Barking Bugle's News editor and Journalist respectively, with some assistance form their human, Diana Bailey. It's in aid of Wonky Pets Rescue who offer a safe haven and chance of a new life to animals with physical or behavioural issues and others who are at risk of being put to sleep.

It's going to be a lot of fun, all for a good cause, with special dog friendly Christmas Pudding treats for our canine friends, a Treasure Hunt, Lucky Dip, fancy dress competitions, orchard walks and of course a visit from Santa Claus himself.

So put the date in your diary,

Saturday 3rd December

and we'll see you at 

the pawty!

Art at The Orchard interview with November artist Gill Repper

We're delighted that artist Gill Repper has agreed to do a little interview for the blog, she's exhibiting a selection of her original paintings here at The Orchard this November.

Gill will you please tell our readers a little about yourself?

My name is Gillian Elizabeth Repper and I am 68 years old living in Wisbech. I was a teacher for nearly 40 years and loved it. I have two sons, two daughters-in-law and two grandchildren. I love children, my cat Bubbles, nearly all animals, travelling, food, friends and of course painting.

Gill please tell us about your work? What are you currently working on?

I love painting in acrylics, but I will quite happily work in any medium, including pastels, oils and water colours. My next painting will be "A Wet Night in London". I have a big project on as well, painting a large mural for a child's bedroom. 

How did you decide to become an artist?

I have always like painting and drawing. My father was a very good illustrator. Over the past 25 years I have been on quite a few courses all over the country. Since I retired 8 years ago I have been lucky enough to indulge my hobby full time.

What's the best advise you've been given as an artist?

I have received so much good advice over the years that I couldn't pick out any one thing. My tutors have been amazing and very generous with their help.

What do you do when you are not creating?

Visiting friends and family. I have two gorgeous grandchildren aged 16 months and 4 years old, so I love spending time with them. My younger son and his wife live in France so visiting them is fantastic.

What are your life and work goals for the future?

After a spell of ill health, my goals are to keep well and keep painting.

Gill you're currently exhibiting some of your original artwork here at The Orchard where else can we find your work?

All my work is original and I have no prints on sale anywhere at the moment. I have a great number of paintings on show for sale at The Angles Theatre, Picturesque in Hill Street, Wisbech and the most recent gallery to take my work is at The Art's Lounge in Swaffham, Norfolk.

Many thanks to Gill Repper for agreeing to be interviewed for The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop Blog. You can view Gill's art daily 10am -4pm until the end of November 2016 at

The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184
Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Mushroom Hunt in The Orchard

It's that time of year, wet but not too cold, when various fungi fruit in our Wisbech orchard

if you look you'll find them popping up everywhere at the base of trees,

in the grass,

and

don't forget to look up, but, don't climb, on the branches.

Our tea room & farm shop customers are more than welcome to take a walk around the designated open area of the orchard to see what you can spot. You'll need wellies as it is rather wet underfoot also please don't pick the fungi as they may be poison and of course care needs to be taken as the terrain may be rough in some places and at this time of year there are fallen apples under the trees.

Opening Hours 10am-4pm daily

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Begdale 

Elm

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184

Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Customers walking in the orchard do so at their own risk. Except for cases of negligence or other breach of duty by the event organizer participants will be responsible and neither the event organizer nor its servants or its agents will be responsible for any loss, theft, injury or damage which results from attendance at and participation in any The Orchard event. This includes, but is not limited to; personal injury, mental or physical or death, loss, theft, injury or damage to vehicles their contents, fittings accessories, items of personal property. The event organizer does not seek to limit its liability in any way for  loss, theft, injury or damage to anypersonal injury or death caused either by the negligence of the event organizer or its servants or agents or by any act of omission of the event organizer or its servants or agents. The event organizer does not seek to limit its liability in any way for any loss, theft, injury or damage to personal property caused by the negligence of   the event organizer or its servants or agents.

November Art at The Orchard ~ Jill Repper

We're delighted to be hosting an exhibition of original artwork by local artist Gill Repper at The Orchard this November, a member of the Wisbech Art Club andGill exhibits regularly at their annual shows. 

Opening Hours 10am-4pm daily

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop
Redmoor Lane
Begdale 
Elm
Wisbech
Cambs
PE14 0RN
Telephone: 07527 046184
Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

This October at The Orchard

October and we're pleased to welcome local artist Julie Parker back to The Orchard Tea Room for an Autumn exhibition of her prints.

Everybody here loves Julie's quirky art, the prints are very reasonably priced and make fantastic Christmas presents for any age group. Exhibition ends 31st October so be sure pop along before then to take a look. There're lots to see and it's free!

This October see's two fun dog shows here at The Orchard, both for very good causes. First off we had a Shaman's Legacy dog show on the 9th. It was, as always, great fun for contestants and spectators alike and it raised a wonderful £228 for the dog rescue.

We were rather pleased to receive this accolade from one of the contestants:

"What a venue!!!!! Some lovely food a lovely walk and a brilliant show!!!!"

Our next October fun dog show is on Sunday 30th October and it is going to be quite a special one!

Organized by Mel of The Sunshine Centre for Therapeutic Riding there will be more than dogs in attendance with a meet and greet the Sunshine Centre ponies, a ghost hunt, pumpkin carving and various other traditional Halloween activities.

All that and plenty of classes for the dogs.

You can't beat a Halloween Fancy Dress!

It's going to be fun folks so make sure you pop the date in your diary and come along on the 30th October to support a worthy cause whilst having a great day out. 

And remember if you're after a locally grown pumpkin or apples for apple bobbing we have lots to choose from here at The Orchard Farm Shop after all it wouldn't be October without pumpkins would it!

All this and more can be found this October at:

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE140RN

Telephone: 07527 046184

Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Butterflies & Dragonflies in The Orchard

Lots of butterflies still to be found in the orchard soaking up the September sunshine

Ringlets

Meadow Brown

Small Tortoiseshell

Visit during a sunny afternoon and you'll be treated to an aerial display of dragonflies 

 How many could you identify?

Orchard walk  open to customers of The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop 10-4 daily

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Begdale 

Elm

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184

Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Ringlet  D. Gordon E. Robertson licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Meadow Brown  © Copyright Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. 
Small Tortoiseshell nottsexminer licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

September Monkey Hunt

 Many thanks to all of those who took the orchard monkey trail today, 

our very own "Great White Hunter" Jim reckons you were all very clever to have checked the weather forecast timing your visit to miss the rain!

Team Monkey was apparently on brilliant form with several managing to completely avoid detection despite the best efforts of contestants!

They're hoping for nicer weather for next year's monkey hunt so they can lie around in the sunshine rather than shelter in the trees from the rain. 

The Orchard Monkey Hunt

Our "team" of monkeys are getting into practice for Saturday's Orchard Monkey Hunt when they'll be hiding themselves among the apple trees in the orchard. 

The Orchard 's 3rd annual  Monkey Hunt 

will take place this Saturday, 3rd September 10am~3pm

at

The Orchard Tea Room

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

All children must be accompanied by an 18+ adult, max 2 children per adult

Tea Room & Farm Shop open as usual, dogs on leads always welcome 

Except for cases of negligence or other breach of duty by the event organizer participants will be responsible and neither the event organizer nor its servants or its agents will be responsible for any loss, theft, injury or damage which results from attendance at and participation in any The Orchard event. This includes, but is not limited to; personal injury, mental or physical or death, loss, theft, injury or damage to vehicles their contents, fittings accessories, items of personal property. The event organizer does not seek to limit its liability in any way for  loss, theft, injury or damage to anypersonal injury or death caused either by the negligence of the event organizer or its servants or agents or by any act of omission of the event organizer or its servants or agents. The event organizer does not seek to limit its liability in any way for any loss, theft, injury or damage to personal property caused by the negligence of   the event organizer or its servants or agents.

Sarah Madsen Art Exhibition at The Orchard August 1st ~ 31st

We're delighted to welcome the very talented artist, jeweller and illustrator Sarah Madsen back to The Orchard Tea Room for her second art exhibition here.

Sarah's work has previously been exhibited at various locations such as the Mall Galleries in London, Silvermine Art Centre in Connecticut and the Steven Whyte  Figurative Studio in Carmel, California, USA.

 Wisbech this is your chance to view an international artist for free! 

Exhibition open 10am-4pm daily

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Begdale 

Elm

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184

Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Art at The Orchard interview with artist Clive Bilcliff

We're delighted that artist Clive Bilcliff has agreed to do a little interview for the blog, he's exhibiting a selection of his original paintings here at The Orchard throughout July.

Clive please tell us about your work? What are you currently working on?

 Having started with watercolours - mainly landscapes and seascapes - I then tried oils and more recently acrylics - which I mainly use for  animal pictures and pet portraits, and pastels -  which I use mainly for people portraits.  I now bounce around all of the mediums depending upon the
subject matter. I usually have several works on the go which I dip into as the mood takes me, unless I have a specific deadline to meet for a commission. 

Having just completed another dog portrait commission in acrylics and a rose in watercolour, I am now finishing off a pastel portrait, a still life in pastels, a steam train in watercolour and am about to start on a picture of a horse-drawn plough scene, probably in acrylic.

How did you decide to become an artist?

I have always had a talent for drawing and painting from a very early age - probably inherited from my dad who was also good at sketching.  On leaving school I went to Art College for an Art Foundation year where I was able to sample all forms of art, including painting, sculpture, graphics, ceramic,
fabric and photography before deciding to concentrate on Product Design. I
studied 3-D Product Design at Newcastle Polytechnic, achieving a BA at the
end of my studies.  One of the guys I studied with was Gavin Bocquet, who
went on to work in the film industry and became Design Director with Lucas
Films and worked on most of the Star Wars sets designs.  

However, I realised that I really wasn't good enough to make a living in
design and instead used my degree to go into Human Resources management,
where I spent all of my working career, initially as an employee and the
second half as a consultant with my own limited company.  It was during a
gap between contracts that I rediscovered my love of painting, after
watching Watercolour Challenge on television about 15 years ago.  I joined
Wisbech Art Club about 3 years ago and I am now the Publicity Officer for
the club. Since retiring last year, I have been able to devote more time to
my painting.

What's the best advise you've been given as an artist?

About 5 years ago I joined a watercolour painting class by Ian King
(local professional artist) and one of the best things I learned from his
tuition was to try to be looser in style and to be much more bold with the
use of shadow, which can really bring a painting to life.

What do you do when you are not creating?

In a way, I am always creating - even if it's just in my mind.  I am
always taking photographs of potential subjects for paintings and thinking
about trying new techniques or subjects or experimenting with different
media.  My art studio is full of books, art materials, canvasses, frames,
finished paintings etc.  

But away from painting I also run the Wisbech Acoustic Club which meets
monthly at the Locomotive pub where we play instruments and sing all types
of music.  I enjoy singing (including karaoke) and have taught myself to
play a bit of acoustic guitar and dabbled with the ukulele and blues
harmonica.  Additionally I am captain of a weekly pool team from the
Locomotive.  I child-mind my 2 years old grandson one day a week.  I often
wonder where I ever found time to work in the past!

What are your life and work goals for the future?

I don't really have any life goals except to continue to enjoy life and
what I do already.  I mainly paint for my own enjoyment, but when other
people also enjoy my work, it adds to the satisfaction.

Clive you're currently exhibiting some of your original artwork here at The Orchard where else can we find your work?

I have just had three paintings in the Wisbech Art Club Summer
Exhibition, all of which sold, including one bought by the Mayor of Wisbech.
From 27 August to 2 September 2016, I will have eight paintings exhibited in
St Matthews Church, Sutton Bridge.  I will also be exhibiting at the Wisbech
Art Club main exhibition in St Peter & St Pauls Church, Wisbech in
October/November 2016.

Facebook Page: 
https://www.facebook.com/artbycbilcliff/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
SAA Gallery:
http://community.saa.co.uk/art/artist/23986745.html?oscsid=38tolt32tn8t698su
7vu9fh161

Contact details: 
Email: cbilcliff@hotmail.com
Mobile: 07946 527832

Many thanks to Clive Bilcliff for agreeing to be interviewed for The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop Blog. You can view his art daily 10am -4pm until the end of July 2016 at

The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184
Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Strawberries health benefits

Wimbledon might be over for this year, and what a fabulous year it was for Great Britain, but it's still strawberry season and the good news is that not only are strawberries truly delicious, they're also good for you:

Just 10 strawberries will supply you with the recommended daily amount of vitamin C.

Strawberries are a source of folic acid

and

strawberries are high in omega 3 fatty acids.

So go on treat yourself to a punnet of delicious goodness!

The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184

Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk 

Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Clive Bilcliff Art Show at The Orchard, Wisbech this July

Following the success of Moira Johnson's art exhibition here at The Orchard Tea Room earlier this year we're delighted to welcome another very popular local artist Clive Bilcliff. Clive will be exhibiting his art in the tea room throughout July.

Born in Newcastle Clive and his family moved to Wisbech over 20 years ago. Now retired from working Clive paints in most mediums across a wide variety of subjects, especially watercolour landscapes and seascapes, acrylic animal portraits and pastel portraits of people. He also works in oils and paints some abstract works.

Clive has been a member of Wisbech Art Club for about 4 years and exhibits his work in their Summer and Winter exhibitions, as well as other local exhibitions. His paintings are available for sale.

Opening Hours 10am -4pm daily

Free entry

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop
Redmoor Lane
Wisbech
Cambs
PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184

Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Goodbye to the month of June

The month of June seems to have gone incredibly quickly here at The Orchard Tea Room, Wisbech. Although much of the month seems to have been rainy with some colossal thunder storms there were still plenty of nice days to sit out in the orchard.

We call the really hot days lemonade days, our lemonade is made right here to an old family recipe, it's delicious and soo refreshing!

And as for those cold, wet miserable weather days, well they are hot chocolate days, and, even if we say so ourselves, our hot chocolate is really sumptuous topped with marshmallows and cream. Yum!

In case you're wondering what a 6ft T Rex is doing dressed up in our orchard well he was our entry for this year's Elm and Friday Bridge Scarecrow Contest. He certainly made everyone smile!

So it's goodbye to the month of June and hello July. There'll be a new artist, Clive Bilcliff exhibiting in the tea room (the Mayor of Wisbech recently bought one of his paintings),  a Shaman's Legacy Fun Dog Show on the 10th and lots of lovely cake. Oh and strawberries too!

Visit us at:

The Orchard Tea Room and Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN

Telephone: 07527 046184

Website: theorchardtearoom.co.uk 

Twitter: @OrchardTeaRoom Facebook: The Orchard Tea Room

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to Dad's everywhere

from 

all of us here at

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop 

We're open 10-4 today for Dad's who like cake

Remember we have an orchard dog walk too if your Dad wants to bring the dog for a walk.

Stuck for a gift idea? How about one of our afternoon tea gift vouchers?

A gift of sandwiches, scone, cakes and tea. Nom Nom!

The Orchard Tea Room & Farm Shop

Redmoor Lane

Wisbech

Cambs

PE14 0RN