Picture an orchard: what do you see? Most likely, you’ll see fruit-laden trees. But what is growing below and between the trees? And what is living in and around the them? Recent research conducted at the University of Reading delved into the impact of growing wildflowers beneath apple trees on the insect population and how […]
News
Orchards on the inside
At first glance it looks like any other community orchard setting – people are focused on a pruning task and are chatting under the summer sun – but it’s actually very different. This is Thorn Cross’ 160 fruit tree orchard, set in the extensive grounds of the open prison in Cheshire. I recently joined our […]
A little patch of nature
A spontaneous decision to try something completely different was a life-changing moment for Satu Fox. The 38-year-old attended our orchard open day with Lewisham Homes just a few minutes’ walk from her London flat. The next thing she knew, she was signing up for five hours of orchard management training with professionals and park keepers […]
In celebration of soft fruit
As I write we are in the midst of a scorching July heatwave, 36 degrees with barely a drop of rain all month. Very different from this time last year when the wet weather was persistent and gardeners were keeping a watchful eye out of the dreaded tomato blight. While spring is my favourite season, […]
We are all apples
As a bit of a forest gardening eager beaver, I’ve been reading some back issues of Agroforestry News. One article from 2015 caught my eye: ‘Tackling green xenophobia’. It’s also published here. In it, veteran eco journalist Fred Pearce argues that the risks of invasive non-native species is often overstated and that these plants can […]
Creating community orchards during lockdown – Wales
We have been very excited this winter to work with local groups in Wales designing some brand new community orchards. These are located in local parks close to the centre of Swansea and within the Morriston Hospital Site grounds (former Victorian gardens), together with an orchard in the garden of a sheltered housing block in […]
Women in cider
March marks International Women’s History Month, so what better way to celebrate than to highlight the important role of women in cider! Cider production in the UK has a long, rich history, within which women have been deeply intertwined, however, largely overlooked. In recent years, there has been a push from women within the trade to […]
Introducing our Orchard Design Kit
One of the first steps when we encounter a new group is gathering them together for an orchard design session. Rather than dictate what we think a community should plant and where each tree should go, we listen and respond with our expert advice as required. It’s an opportunity for communities to really take ownership […]
Biodiversity at its best: The Dulverton Programme
After the successful completion of a year-long programme on biodiversity, Head of Programmes & Operations Ella Hashemi reflects on its impact and challenges. Judging from my local park, people are accessing and enjoying their local greenspaces more than ever before. Cold, grey November mornings see the park packed full of schoolchildren, joggers, work-from-homers, dog walkers, […]
The joy to be gleaned in an orchard during lockdown
I am writing this at the start of our November COVID-19 lockdown in England. I try to remember what I did last time round, back in that beautiful spring time, when the unexpected closure of schools meant home-schooling my 5-year-old for a number of weeks, alongside balancing work and the uncertainty of the time. Our saviour was the daily walks and bike rides out […]