Metford Road Community Orchard work days

At the end of the Allotments north of the stream at Redland Green is a wonderful wild green place, the Metford Road Community Orchard. It is steep, full of all kinds of fruit trees and bushes, has glorious views, and is home to foxes, butterflies, slow worms, newts, frogs, wild flowers, and numerous species of flora and fauna. What’s the history of the orchard? Towards the end of the last century, the five plots at the end of the allotment site had fallen into disuse. Furthest from the gate, steepest, hardest to maintain, they had become totally overgrown and littered with all kinds of rubbish. Nobody wanted to take one of these daunting plots for an allotment. A group of permaculture enthusiasts arranged with the City Council arranged for the five plots to become a Community Orchard. Much back-breaking work has been done since then, with planting, the creation of terraces, ponds, steps, paths, a compost loo, a shelter, and two social spaces. How does the orchard work? The orchard is totally maintained by its members, and occasionally, their friends/family or visiting volunteers. Can more people get involved? Yes. If you think you’d like to find out more and possibly become a member then do get in touch with the Orchard group (see below). We’re happy to show you around, and invite you to join us on a workday to see if it’s for you. You do need to be aware that the site is very steep and has lots of trip hazards, especially for little children and those with mobility issues. There are various ways that members keep in touch with one another and discuss ideas: we have a website where photos and all sorts of information is available to help you make the most of your membership, know what needs to be done and how to do it; we have an email group that facilitates easy group emailing; we have a WhatsApp group for those with a smart phone – this is particularly useful for coordinating visits outside the regular sessions; we have get-togethers including two meetings a year plus ad-hoc get-togethers either at the pub or a member’s house (on winter evenings) or in the orchard (when there’s something like a solstice to celebrate); and, of course, we have the workdays themselves. If you would like to go along one workday and help, then do get in touch. How do I find out more? Looking forward to hearing from and working there with you soon! The Metford Road Orcharders