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March 2024

Orchard planting


Local Scouts came to help plant 5 heritage fruit trees in the garden, did you know just 5 fruit trees qualifies as an orchard? Our orchard consists of:

  1. Apple - Ashmead’s Kernal            
  2. Apple - Bardsey 
  3. Apple - Bramley’s Seedling
  4. Plum - Yellow Pershore
  5. Gage - Willingham

Read all about the orchard here.


2023

What’s happened so far and what’s happening next?




Work undertaken so far

  • Removed dangerous waste and contaminants
  • Filled a large skip with bonfire waste, litter, and dumped junk 
  • Cleared the site of head high brambles and nettles
  • Levelled the whole site by hand
  • Filled and removed many builders bags of green waste,
    these are taken to a local farmer’s composting site, and the compost spread on local fields
  • Made the greenhouse safe and built raised beds inside
  • Built compost bays for manageable amounts of garden waste
  • Removed huge patches of ground elder by hand
  • Repaired the gate and installed new fence posts
  • Reduced and tidied the boundary hedges
  • Removed a rotting shed and reused what we could
  • Built a number of garden beds using no dig techniques
  • Used mushroom compost and manure for growing
  • Our local tree surgeon provides woodchip for the site paths and to keep weeds down
  • Local Scouts hold sessions and help develop the garden
  • Held open days for the village with free seeds and plants
  • Set up website and Facebook page
  • Awarded grant funding for development of the garden
  • Purchase of a new shed for storage and rainwater catchment
  • Planting of mini orchard consisting of heritage fruit tree varieties 



Planned work

  • Repair greenhouse by sourcing and installing new glass
  • Install more rainwater catchment including purchase and use of IBC
  • Communal seating so the whole village can spend regular time in the garden
  • Installation of a field shelter for semi indoor space when it is raining or very hot
  • Mini wetland to attract and support local frogs, newts, and dragonflies
  • Finish building beds for maximum fruit, veg and herb production
  • Set up more composting facilities including worm farms and bokashi
  • Build a ‘Little Free Library’ for community seed library and host seed swaps
  • Have a grand opening event for the village and local council (Monday 6th May 2024)
  • Finish woodchip paths once infrastructure has been installed
  • Build a produce stand for villagers to access weekly harvests more regularly
  • Commission a local artist to paint a colourful mural on the fence
  • Purchase of community tools including gloves and garden equipment
  • Purchase an apple press for community apple juicing day
  • Host annual Cropwell Abundance event with fruit swap and share
  • Development of event programme and workshops throughout the year
  • Aim to open every Friday and have workshop sessions throughout the year

© 2024