In February 2015 we planted a new orchard at Mandeville Place, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, to celebrate the achievements of the Paralympics 2012, tying in with the opening ceremony which featured apples. We chose a tree from the home county of each goldwinning Paralympic athlete.
We planted more than 35 tree varieties from 4 countries in 3 hours. Well done to all of the Orchard Leaders on the day and we hope everyone reading this gets the chance to visit these trees and have a bite of an apple, pear or plum!
The Orchard Leader training at the Olympic Park covered the fundamental aspects of orchard planting and care: managing pests and diseases, pruning, and above all emphasising the importance of giving extra care to the trees during the first three years before they are fully established.
25 local residents are now trained to be Orchard Leaders and they will be the key people who nurture and care for their orchard, supported with plentiful support and advice from The Orchard Project. They shared wonderful visions of their orchard 30 years into the future and ideas even included a floating apple market!
Here is some info on the trees we planted and the athletes themselves
1. Hannah Cockcroft
Apple Ribston Pippin
A Yorkshire Heritage desert apple developed in Victorian times.
2. Aled Davis
Apple Brith Mawr
M26 2 year
As you were born in Wales, we have chosen to plant Brith Mawr, a rare desert and cooking heritage Apple originating in South Wales.
http://www.welshappletrees.com/stocklist.html
3. Anthony Kappes
Apple NEWTON WONDER
MM106 2 year
As you were born in Stockport, we have chosen to plant Newton Wonder, a Heritage cooking apple much like a Bramley, but tastier, raised and grown in the area.
http://www.orangepippin.com/apples/newton-wonder
4. Barney Storey
Apple Lord Derby
MM106 2 Year Bush Form
As you live is Cheshire, we have chosen to plant a Lord Derby, an excellent culinary apple that can also be eaten fresh. This is a heritage variety, traditionally grown in Lancashire and Cheshire.
5. Craig MacLean
Apple Bloody Ploughman Half-Standard MM106 2 Year
OR Apple James Grieve
Dear Craig, as you were born in Scotland we have chosen to plant a Bloody Ploughman – a red Scottish heritage cooking and eating apple, with a story behind it.
http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/apple-trees/bloody-ploughman
Alternatively we can plant a James Grieve – a delicious Scottish desert apple of Victorian heritage.
6. Danielle Brown
Apple Ribston Pippin
MM106 1 year
Dear Danielle,
As you were born in Yorkshire, we have chosen to plant a Ribston Pippin, a Yorkshire Heritage desert apple developed in Victorian times.
7. David Smith
Apple Scotch Bridget
MM106 1 year Maiden
Dear David,
As you were born in Scotland we have chosen a Scotch Bridget apple trees – a heritage variety that makes a wonderful apple pie.
http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/apple-trees/scotch-bridget
8.David Stone
Apple Ribston Pippin
MM106 1 year maiden
Dear David,
As you were born in Yorkshire, we have chosen to plant a Ribston Pippin, a Yorkshire Heritage desert apple developed in Victorian times.
9. David Weir
Pear Merton Pride
Quince C I year
Wheelchair user
Dear David,
As you were born in the London borough of Sutton we have chosen to plant Merton Pride, a delicious and unusual pear, developed in nearby Merton.
http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/pear-trees/merton-pride
10. Deborah Criddle
Somerset Redstreak
MM106 1 year
Dear Deborah,
As you were born in Somerset, we have chosen a Somerset Redstreak apple. This is a very pretty heritage variety used for cider and juice.
http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/cider-apple-trees/somerset-redstreak
11. Ellie Simmonds
Apple Catshead
MM106 1 year
Dear Ellie,
As you were born in Walsall, we have chosen to plant a Catshead apple, a heritage cooking variety which originates in the Midlands and is one of the oldest known apples.
Alternatively we could plant a cherry tree as many new cherry orchards are being planted in the West Midlands.
http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/apple-trees/catshead
12. Heather Fredericksen
Apple Lord Derby
MM106 2 Year Bush
Dear Heather
As you were born in Leigh, we have chosen to plant a Lord Derby, an excellent culinary apple that can also be eaten fresh. This is a heritage variety, traditionally grown around Manchester.
13. Helen Lucas
Pear Onward
Quince A 2 year
Dear Helen,
As you are from Surrey, we have chosen to plant an ‘Onward’ Pear tree – a yellow orange dessert pear originating in Surry and doing well in orchards in London.
14. James Roe
Apple Merton Worcester
MM106
Dear James,
“As you are from Stratford-upon-Avon we are planting a Merton Worcester, a sweet dessert apple, reflecting the very rich orchard heritage of the countryside around Stratford-upon-Avon.”
http://www.orangepippin.com/apples/merton-worcester
15. Jessica Jane Applegate
Apple Norfolk Beefing
MM106 1 year Maiden
Dear Jessica,
As you are from Norfolk we have chosen a Norfolk Royal Beefing apple, popular in baking.
16. Jonathan Fox
Apple Devonshire Quarrenden
MM106 2 year
Container Grown
Dear Jonathan,
As you are from Devon we have chosen to plant a Devonshire Quarrenden, a heritage apple grown in the UK for over 500 years. It ripens early, is eaten fresh and tastes slightly of strawberries.
17. Jonathan Peacock
Gage Cambridge
Julien A 2 Year half Standard
Plus another
Dear Jonathan,
As you are from Cambridge we have chosen to plant a delicious Cambridge Gage (greengage) plum tree.
18. Josef Craig
Apple Mrs Lakes seedling
MM106 1 year
Dear Josef, as you are from Tyne-and-Wear we are planning to plant a heritage apple called ‘Mrs Lakeman’s Seedling’ a very rare heritage apple.
19.Josie Pearson
Apple Ashmeads Kernel
MM106 2 Year Half-Standard
Dear Josie,
As you are from Bristol and now live in Wales, we have chosen to plant Ashmeads’ Kernal, a traditional English Russet apple that is eaten fresh. This is a heritage apple originally from Gloucester and grown in the Bristol and South Wales area.
20. Lee Pearson
Dabinett (cider apple from staffordshire)
M25 3 year
Dear Lee,
As you are from Staffordshire we have chosen to plant Dabinet, an attractive deep-red heritage apple used for cider and juice and originating in Staffordshire.
21 Lily van den Broeke
Pear Merton Pride
QuinceC 1 year
As you were born in the London borough of Sutton we have chosen to plant Merton Pride, a delicious and rare pear, developed in nearby Merton.
http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/pear-trees/merton-pride
22. Mark Colbourne
Monmouth Beauty
M26
Dear Mark,
As you are from Monmouthshire we have chosen to plant a ‘Monmouth beauty’ apple tree. This is a red heritage apple that is eaten fresh.
23. Michael David Bushell
Damson plum Shropshire Prune
st Julien A 2 year old half standard
Potted
Dear Michael (Mickey)
As you are from Shropshire we have decided to pland a Shropshire Prune tree – a delicious damson plum that can be eaten fresh and makes great jam.
24. Naomi Riches
Apple Core Blimey
MM106 1 year
Dear Naomi,
As you are from London we have decided to plangt a ‘Core Blimey’ apple, a brand new dessert apple, developed in 2012 by The Orchard Project especially to grow in London. (It’s very rare and delicious!)
25. Natasha Baker
Apple London Pearmain
MM106 1 year
Dear Natasha,
As you are from London we have decided to plant a ‘London Pearmain’ apple tree – a heritage dessert apple, growing well in London.
http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/london-pearmain-apple-fruit-trees.aspx
26. Neil Fachie
Apple Arbroath Oslin
MM106 1 year
Dear Neil,
As you are from Aberdeen we have decided to plant an Arbroath Oslin, a very rare heritage apple from Aberdeenshire
http://www.arbroathherald.co.uk/news/local-news/arbroath-oslin-apple-tree-to-return-1-191540
27. Oliver Hynd
Damson plum Merryweather
Brompton
Potted
Dear Oliver,
As you are from Nottinhamshire we have decided to plant a delicious culinary plum from Nottinghamshire called a Merryweather Damson. These can also be eaten fresh.
28. Pamela Lillian Relph
Cherry Morello
Colt
Potted 12 litre
Dear Pamela,
As you are from Buckinghamshire we have decided to plant a Morello cherry, to reflect the recent heritage of the area as the main cherry growing area in the UK.
As an alternative we can plant a Penny Cherry.
29. Richard Whitehead
Damson Plum Merryweather
Brompton
Potted
Dear Richard,
As you are from Nottinhamshire we have decided to plant a delicious culinary plum from Nottinghamshire called a Merryweather Damson. These can also be eaten fresh.
30. Sarah Storey
Apple Storey’s Seedling
MM106 1 year
Dear Sarah,
We are planting an apple to reflect the heritage of each UK Gold winning Paralympic 2012 athlete. For most we have chosen apple originating in their home counties or counties they now live in. However we discovered that there is a ‘Storeys Seedling ’ heritage apple and we though that you would like this instead of a Lord Derby, which originates near Chester.
31. Sophie Wells
Apple Peasgood’s Nonsuch
MM106 2 year
Dear Sophie,
As you are from Linconshire we have decided to plant the unusually named ‘Peasgood Nonsuch’ a lovely cooking apple from Stamford, Linconshire.
‘http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/apple-trees/peasgood-nonsuch
32. Sophie Christianson
Pear Williams Bon Chrétien
QuinceA
2 year Bush
Dear Sophie,
As you are from Berkshire we have chosen to plant a Williams Bon Chrétien, one of the most popular pears in the world, and originating in Berkshire (Known as Pear William)