2024 on the cobnut plat

In 2023 the review of the year on the plat amounted to little  more than a series of pictures. Family events had interrupted the normal flow of life, leaving little time for details. 2024 has been a little calmer and, as you will see, family featured at harvest time. But first, the usual tasks were performed. Some old trees, wild hazels which stand on the plat for the value they give in pollinating the Kent Cobs, we’re coppiced. We do a couple of these each year and they also provide good firewood.

Pruning took place early in the year. The weather was dreadful: rain, rain, and more rain. Only later, when the ground dried out somewhat, the tractor returned to pulverise the cut branches, twigs and debris. This work used to be carried out by teams of volunteers including the wonderful students from the Princess Christian Farm at Hildenborough.

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In March primroses and violets were the stars of the spring flower show.

 

In the far corner of the plat one or two of the wild hazels showed signs of coming to the end of their lives. 

In May orchids flourished along with buttercups, sorel and wild strawberry flowers (the kind that don't produce strawberries)

The nuts were developing in July and although less plentiful than the previous year a reasonable crop was expected.

In early September a team of volunteers from HSBC were lent to us by the National Trust and proved keen pickers. The weather was mixed with rain interrupting some of the work.  

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Charlie Tebbutt is well-known to the cobnut pickers and is the chief buyer of nuts from our plat.  Here he is, at his installation in the busy surroundings of Borough Market, where Kentish cobnuts are proudly displayed.

The first Saturday of September was the traditional cobnut plat Open Day. The rain held off and families of all ages gathered to pick and picnic and play games in the open grassy space.

Charlie had provided an amazing feast of good things from the Market and everyone, including the youngest, enjoyed themselves and had fun.

 

So ends 2024. The crop this year was significantly down on the previous two years and the quality was variable.  Possibly the incessant rain in late January and February had affected pollination; if catkins are soaked through and there are no drying winds to carry the pollen to the female flower, the resulting crop will suffer. Or perhaps, as some traditionalists contend, the trees are just ‘having a rest’. The grey squirrels, on the other hand were not resting but came in hoards, helping themselves to at least half the crop on the young bloc. I was sorry to disappoint some regular customers

Looking ahead to next year, we hope for dry weather when we need it - at pollination time and harvest time - and rain in moderation at other times.

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