Apple enthusiasts endeavour to regrow and preserve the legacy of heritage apple trees on Department of National Defence land.

Just in time for fall to descend, DND OKB次元官网网址檇 the municipality to restore the orchard planted by Metchosin pioneer Robert Weir.

The 19 heritage trees are on 7,900 square metres of land off William Head Road next to the correctional facility. Weir sailed to Metchosin from England in 1853 and purchased the land from the Hudson Bay Company.

B次元官网网址淭his will help preserve the heritage apples here in Metchosin,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Larry Tremblay standing in WeirB次元官网网址檚 Orchard. B次元官网网址淭his is the earliest land the Hudson Bay Company could sell as private lots.B次元官网网址�

Later the land was used as a quarantine station for Chinese labourers before being used by DND.

The apple trees remained a constant, surviving to today produce big, round, shiny, red apples.

When Dan OB次元官网网址機onnell, president of the Metchosin Pomological Society, discovered it years ago, he felt compelled to preserve the 160-year-old trees, their fruit and their legacy. The trees planted in 1856, are nearly at the end of their lifespan. OB次元官网网址機onnell plans to take healthy young branches to graft onto new trunks to duplicate the trees.

HeB次元官网网址檒l combine the branch and trunk, bind them and then seal with wax. The connecting of cambium, a thin layer under the bark, is what eventually helps grow a new tree.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a real art and it needs to be cut at the right angle for it to match,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址機onnell said. B次元官网网址淵ou have to make sure you wrap it well, because as soon as you plant it a big fat bird will sit on it and could ruin your graft.B次元官网网址�

Grafting offers a higher success rate than planting seeds. B次元官网网址淚f you take an apple seed and plant it you have a one in 1,000 or 10,000 chance of it growing,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址機onnell said.

So far he has three unsuccessful grafts, but he plans to try again next spring.

Volunteers will also prune the trees, and help prevent disease and pests in the orchard.

B次元官网网址淲e have to cut off the branches of the trees with tent caterpillars on them and then burn them,B次元官网网址� said OB次元官网网址機onnell.

Inmates from the William Head Institution will help on the project by reducing invasive species in the orchard including Scotch broom and blackberries.

celebrates its apple fest this weekend.