Community orchards

Community Orchards in the UK
Community Orchards were promoted by *Common Ground (UK charity) in 1992.

There are now (September 2006) over 300 established, and many more are being developed. Community Orchards are places for growing local and other varieties of top fruit, for sharing horticultural skills, for recreation and encouraging wildlife.

Old orchards have been saved by being established as Community Orchards
 * Cross o’ Cliff Community Orchard near Lincoln
 * Cleve Prior Community Orchard near Evesham
 * Tewin Orchard near Welwyn Garden City
 * Carhampton Community Orchard in Somerset

Traditional and modern compared
Traditional Orchards are orchards with tall ‘standard’, widely spaced trees, with about 150 trees per hectare, often under grazed by sheep or cattle, and extensively managed. Modern commercial orchards contain dwarf bush trees, with about 2200 trees per hectare, and are intensively managed. Every farm and large garden would have had its own orchard of mixed fruit trees that kept us in apples from July/August through Christmas to Easter.

Related topics

 * Open spaces
 * Growing and gardening

Reference

 * Common Ground Media Release 14th September 2006