Fruit tree pruning workshop with Brent Cairns

Join us to learn how to prune fruit trees from Brent Cairns - Waimakariri District Councillor. Through the Kaiapoi Food Forest Trust, Brent and his wife Shirley have supported the growth of community food forests from Kaiapoi and Pines-Kairaki to Hanmer Springs and local schools creating spaces for learning, sustainability, and community connection.

Pruning fruit trees is important to improve fruit quality, enhance tree health, and manage size. It allows sunlight to reach inner branches and air to flow freely, which stops disease and helps the plant grow strong. Come along to learn how to prune apples, and stone fruit.

Key Benefits of Pruning

• Better Fruit Production: Directs tree energy into growing bigger, sweeter fruit instead of wasted leaves.

• Disease Prevention: Removes dead, damaged, or crossing branches where pests and fungi hide.

• Sunlight and Air Flow: Opens the middle of the tree so every branch gets equal light.