Thalmassing construction yard employees: Success as certified fruit tree trimmers!

Thalmassing construction yard employees: Success as certified fruit tree trimmers!

On December 22, 2025, it was announced that the employees of the municipal building yard in Thalmassing, Peter Kimmerling and Josef Neßlauer, had successfully completed the training course to become certified fruit arborists. According to the municipality of Thalmassing, the course was carried out by the Upper Palatinate Association of District Advisors for Horticultural and Regional Conservation in order to deepen knowledge in the care and preservation of fruit trees. This further training is an important step towards securing the municipal orchard and maintaining the cultural landscape in the community. The municipality would like to thank its construction yard employees for their commitment and willingness to continue training.

The training included an extensive curriculum with topics such as proper fruit tree pruning, planting and refining fruit trees, and the basics of adding value to fruit products and entrepreneurial activity. All of this is also important for future nursing funding as part of the Bavarian litter project. The training not only ensures the personal qualifications of the participants, but is also a contribution to active nature conservation.

Contents of the training

The training to become a certified fruit tree nurse takes place over several modules, which includes both theoretical and practical components. A total of seven full-day events are planned, supplemented by online seminars on special topics. A particular focus is on independent commercial activity as a fruit tree nursery. The training content includes:

• Modul 1: Grundlagen des Obstbaumschutzes, Biologie, Pflanzung und Pflege
• Modul 2: Geschichte des Obstbaus
• Modul 3: Erziehungsschnitt für junge und mittelalte Obstbäume
• Modul 4: Arbeitssicherheit und Baumgesundheit
• Modul 5: Pflege und Verjüngung alter Obstbäume
• Modul 6: Vertiefung praktischer Schnitttechniken
• Modul 7: Veredelungstechniken
• Modul 8: Sommerpflege von Obstbäumen
• Modul 9: Unternehmerische Tätigkeit im Obstbau
• Modul 10: Prüfungsvorbereitung und Ausblick
• Modul 11: Abschlussprüfung in Theorie und Praxis

These modules are led by experienced Upper Franconian district consultants and external experts who have extensive qualifications in horticulture and land management. The program has been implemented as a joint project by all Upper Franconian districts since 2018.

Importance for fruit growing

One goal of the training is to promote the protection and preservation of orchards and old fruit trees. The participants not only learn the technical skills for caring for fruit trees, but also receive valuable information about the promotion and utilization of orchard fruit products. The comprehensive training is therefore an important building block for sustainable fruit growing in Bavaria.

The successful certification of the construction yard employees Peter Kimmerling and Josef Neßlauer is not only a personal success for them, but also benefits the entire community by promoting the knowledge and practical skills required to care for the valuable orchards. Anyone interested can register at any district advisor in Upper Franconia.

For further information about the training and the possibilities for participation, the website of the Upper Franconia District Association for Horticulture and Land Management and the OGV Oberfranken.