Saturday 14 November

Fruit Tree and Soil Care with Matthew Priestley, Brotherwood

EcoMatters Environment Trust - Store and EcoHub

About this event

Whether you’ve just planted your first fruit tree or want to deepen your understanding of tree health, this two-hour workshop explores how caring for the soil can help your trees thrive.

Join Matthew Priestley from Brotherwood to explore the living soil beneath your trees, including how fungi, bacteria, worms and other soil life help cycle nutrients and support healthy growth. Drawing on permaculture and regenerative approaches to fruit-tree care, Matthew will share practical ways to build soil health using organic matter, compost and mulch.

The session combines a short talk with a practical sheet-mulching demonstration. We’ll also look at a sample of biochar and discuss its potential uses, with an introduction to how pruning and foliar sprays fit into the wider picture of tree health.

Suitable for beginners and anyone wanting a more connected understanding of fruit-tree and soil care.

About the tutor

Matthew Priestley is the director of Brotherwood Ltd and leads the soil-health and orchard-restoration work for Auckland Council’s heritage fruit-tree programme. His approach blends arboriculture, regenerative land care, and hard data from the field.

With a BSc in Botany and Microbiology and ongoing Master’s research on repairing compacted clay soils using biochar and in-situ composting, Matthew focuses on practical, evidence-based methods that actually shift orchard performance. He specialises in helping communities and councils rebuild soil function so fruit trees can thrive long term.

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