A group looking to provide orchards for the community in Bishop’s Stortford has received a grant of almost £3,000 from East Herts Council to plant fruit trees in parkland.
The initial plan for Northern Parkland, between the St Michael’s Mead and Bishop’s Gate estates, is to plant about 30 trees, mostly local heritage varieties, in an informal layout.
The grant from EHC for £2,830 will cover the cost of the trees, information boards, equipment, first aid training and kit, group admin and working with schools.
Cllr Jonathan Kaye, the council’s executive member for communities, said: “This is a fantastic project with huge community and environmental benefits that we are pleased to be supporting through our grants programme. I very much look forward to seeing the transformation at Northern Parkland as the new trees establish and grow.”
On Saturday (November 12), the Bishop’s Stortford Community Orchards Group (BSCOG) will be presenting its case to the town council for a larger community orchard in the council’s Jenkins Lane site, off Hallingbury Road.
Together the orchards will enable lots of tree planting, with benefits to biodiversity and the climate and creating a legacy for future generations to enjoy.
BSCOG spokeswoman Jill Goldsmith said: “We’ll be able to hold events for people to enjoy the blossom, track the changes in wildlife in the areas and, in due course, to enjoy the fruits of our labours!”
Around 270 historic varieties of apples, pears, plums and cherries have been grown across the East of England, but 60% of orchard habitat has been lost from the region since the 1960s. With that loss, there will have been less space for insects and flowers, contributing to declining bird numbers too.
The community orchards group is open to all and welcomes anyone interested in volunteering to help with tree planting, maintenance or administration.
It is already working with Stortford primary schools Manor Fields and Hillmead, and welcomes other groups getting involved. There will be a get-together on Sunday November 27 to look at plans and meet each other.
Planting in Northern Parklands is likely to take place in January, on the weekend of 14-15 or 21-22. More information will be available on the group’s website as details are confirmed: www.bishopsstortfordcommunityorchards.org.
At Jenkins Lane, there is scope for a more formal orchard, with up to 100 or so trees, with avenues and maybe fan trees or espaliering, and space for benches. This is an ambitious project as the ground is uncultivated and will need fencing.
If the town council agrees a lease and grant, work at Jenkins Lane will start in spring/summer 2023 ready for the first planting in winter 2023-24.
In Sawbridgeworth, the well-established Rivers Orchard dates back to 1725. The Rivers family were recognised experts in fruit growing. Probably the most famous variety they developed is the Conference pear, whose name reflects the fact that it won first prize at the National British Pear Conference in London in 1885.
Jill said: “Community orchards in Bishop’s Stortford will give us the opportunity to support retention of the Rivers varieties, to maintain fruit-growing skills and traditions in our community, and to develop local spaces for our enjoyment.”
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