Abundance of fruit trees along Hillcourt Road

[fl0wer]

A decorative, unpruned pear tree and some mirabelle trees growing as a hedge almost at the foot of Donkey Alley, are covered in fruit this year. Alas the trees haven't been pruned, & their baby fruit was not thinned enough in the early summer, so this autumn fruit is plentiful yet tiny in size and growing on branches too high to reach. All the free food is going to waste.

Conditions in spring, at the blossom/pollination season must have been favourable. Let's be thankful for successful bee colonies in the area, and consolidate by cherishing these wonderful fruit trees.

Any suggestions?

[mynamehere]

jam/ chutney/ sorbet/ crumble/ sweet edge to a salad?/ stuffed into roast? .... add sugar and eat. I just made rose hips and not great apples into jelly

[fl0wer]

Thanks for responding, mynamehere, I am hoping people will extend this discussion re: looking after the trees better, getting them pruned and attending to the early-stage fruit, rather than one about cooking up all this [undersized] bounty

[mynamehere]

Of course you are correct... edible stuff rots in most gardens I'll hazard a guess. There's the most amazing pear tree at the U-bend Upland makes with Friern. Fruit like photographs slamming onto concrete and rotting bruised and broken on the cement. And a note: a lot of the trees on East Dulwich streets are edible crab apples.

[fl0wer]

Yes, have enjoyed a few of the pears you mention, fine indeed once ripened properly(as the actress said to the bishop).

How could the person who lives there be persuaded to let us help him/her pick the crop do you think? Wouldn't mind doing just that, and then they keep it. Could always raise money at the next charitable fete, etc

[sunbob]

I haven't noticed the pear tree you mention, but there is another one a few yards away on the corner of Friern and Peckham Rye. It's now inside the new school playground. There weren't any fruit this year, but its usually smothered. I wonder if the school will take an interest next time it fruits.