Bring Wild Apples Back To The Woods

I generally promote Bards In The Woods Sunday afternoon events in public access woodlands of Ireland from National Tree Week in March until end of October. Between end of October and early March its the native tree planting season. For this winter I suggest that tree planting focuses on trees for food. Hazels are easy, they take well and grow well but the native tree that has almost vanished from our woodlands are wild apple trees, crab apples some of us say. I propose that we aim to plant many more wild apple trees this winter. Here's a way this can be done. - Cut up a favourite apple and remove the seeds. Most apple species are from grafting onto wild apple root stock. Wrap the seeds in wax paper, greaseproof paper, and store for 4 weeks in a cool dark place, garden shed maybe. - Get some zipper Ziploc bags or even the small Ziploc food containers and half fill with potting compost, and place a seed in each bag or container. Moisten, then keep in a refrigerator, bags t