First Phase
Planting and building
The Community Orchard Steering Group raised £23,000 in 2004 which enabled it to fulfil some of the ideas which had inspired the group. The first thing we did was to design and commission an ornate wrought iron set of gates for the Orchard’s entrance.
The group planted 60 specimen fruit trees in January ‘05 with two circular educational areas. One educational area was a potager demonstrating a rich variety of organically grown vegetables, and the other grew mainly sensory plants (plants which are accessible to those with sensory disabilities).
During ’07 two applications for funding were worked upon and in doing so we fashioned objectives and aims for the following five years beginning January ’08. We came up with four central aims:
To promote positive change in local people around the areas of exercise, health and diet.
To provide an amenity site for local people; a site which you can have fun in and relax.
To educate and inform people about organic gardening and horticultural issues.
To promote social cohesion (getting people working and playing together).By the end of ‘07 we were informed that our applications for just over £115,000 had been successful.
