Local and Community Orchards in Gloucestershire (in need of updating):

Stroud Area Community Orchards and Initiatives

Horsley Orchard Project, Heather Slater fevslater@googlemail.com 01453 833699

Eastington Community Orchards Group (ECO Group), Tom Low www.eastingtonorchards.org.uk tom@tomlow.co.uk  01453 823425

Westley Farm, Chalford, Hege Usborne hege@westleyfarm.co.uk www.westleyfarm.co.uk 01285 760262  Hege has set up an Appleshare project, linking pickers and growers. She would like to expand further if there are helpers. Also done community juicing with Andrew Charters (see below).

Stroud Valleys Project/Holywell Orchard @ Cam www.stroudvalleysproject.org  01453 753358 eg Ben Spencer spencer.ben@btinternet.com   Also coordinating new Stroud Apple Town project

Rockness Orchard Group, Jinny Marshall jinnyann@btinternet.com

Stroud Community Agriculture, Gary Morter and Nick Weir 01453 766350

Leonard Stanley Orchard Group, David Newton 01453 792172  david.newton141@btinternet.com  (formal proposal by the Leonard Stanley Community Enterprise Group to form community orchards in Leonard Stanley)

Down to Earth Cooperative in Stroud area helps people set up and grow fruit and vegetables in their own gardens, seeking funding to expand this: Amanda Godber amanda@downtoearth.coop

Randwick Orchard, Julia Currie julia@juliacurrie.co.uk

Thrupp Community Orchard, Mark Russell markgavinrussell@waitrose.com

Water Lane Community Orchard, Alex davisorion@aol.com

Nailsworth Go Grow Group has an orchard project in Nortonwood/Jovial Orchard – Marilyn Miles 01453 832974 mobile 0780 1558931 mbm@ankerbold.co.uk or Katherine Kearns 01453 834530 Katherine.kearns@southglos.gov.uk

http://www.gogrownailsworthvalleys.co.uk/orchards.html

Whiteway Community Orchard Group, Hugh Shewring 01285 821872 hughshewring@gmail.com

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Community Orchard http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/community-orchard-free-fruit-in.html

North Nibley community juicing of local fruit, Brenda Hellier 01453 545451 brendahellier@btinternet.com

Woodchester Community Orchard – South Woodchester Amenity Land Trust, J & J Willoughby 01453 872645

Abbey Home Farm, Mike Wakeford wakefordmike@hotmail.co.uk

Minchinhampton CO (Transition Minchinhampton) (National Trust donating land),

http://transitionminch.webs.com/      01453 885707

Transition Stroud, John Meadley – schools ryeford@phonecoop.coop 01453 791867

Fruit Map Nailsworth, Katherine Kearns 01453 834530 Katherine.kearns@southglos.gov.uk

Transition Food Group, Helen Nightingale helen@helennightingale.co.uk

The Long Ground, Stroud between Cainscross Rd and back of Tesco, owned by Stroud Town Council, coordinated by Stroud Apple Town

In pipeline Dursley CO, Miriam Yagud miriam.yagud@talktalk.net

01453547032  Mobile 075074 13372

Ebley Linear Community Orchard

The Ebley Linear Community Orchard celebrated its 18th. birthday on National Apple Day 2012. It was the first in Britain to be planted alongside a new cycle trail. Seventy apple and pear trees were installed by Gloucestershire County Council along half a mile of the track which runs alongside the A419 Ebley-bypass between Stonehouse and Dudbridge. Many are rare Gloucestershire species with names such as Ashmeads Kernel, Gilliflower of Gloucester and Chaxhill Red. However in recent years the county council has not had the funds to maintain the orchard. Many of the trees have now become over-crowded and are in desperate need of pruning to ensure their heathy survival. After many years of complaints from local people about the state of the orchard, a local charity, the Stroud Community Land Trust has secured funds through The Big Lottery to restore the site as part of Stroud’s bid to become Britain’s first Apple Town. A survey of the orchard in 2013 has identifed forty-four of the apple and pear trees which can be saved. The charity is now seeking volunteers to help secure the linear orchard’s future. To get involved, please contact Andy Read 01453 756955 or andy@dprp.net

Communal or individual juicing with Andrew Charters’ mobile press available to hire Andy Charters – 01453 758823  acharters@sarrtech.co.uk (Stroud area but can travel much further) www.mobileciderpress.co.uk

Food co-operative in Stroud June 2011 update

Down to Earth Co-operative was set up in late 2009, to support households in the Stroud area wanting to grow organic vegetables and fruit in their own gardens. The group provides a range of services from 1:1 training and/or advice (planning, trouble shooting etc), preparation of growing areas including installing raised beds or removing turf or recovering overgrown areas, through to planting and sowing, weeding and feeding, protection from pests, harvesting and holiday cover. In addition to these services, Down to Earth has a ‘Growing Communities Project’, the aim of which is to take volunteers through nationally accredited training in growing food organically, and then supporting them in encouraging others to start growing.

They hope to start a new project  called ‘The Fruit and Nut Tree Guardianship Scheme’.  Other plans in the pipeline include crop share schemes, which we are currently researching to find the most suitable option for those with spare growing areas.  If anyone would like to find out more about the co-operative, go to www.downtoearth.coop   email info@downtoearth.coop or call 01453 700011.

Treecreeper Arborists Limited, offering help to Stroud orchard groups. 01453 844038  Mobile. 07817 320781  office@tree-creeper.com  www.tree-creeper.com Ceri Cockram (Director and Secretary)

Stroud Community TV wants your films
Stroud Community TV has just been launched – it is a not-for-profit internet TV channel ‘By Stroud people, for Stroud people’. SCTV already has over 220 videos about the area, covering local events, by local film makers, archive footage and more. Already among the videos are the Horsley Orchard Project (link below), Apple juicing in Randwick and Edible Open Gardens project. SCTV now want your Stroud-related YouTube or Vimeo videos to add to the website.
Philip Booth, founding Director of SCTV, who lives in Ruscombe, said: “SCTV is run by volunteers and will be a place to publicise and promote Stroud to local people and visitors. It aims to support our local economy, create a space for voices which are less often heard, inspire audiences into actions, and develop the already amazing media skills and creative talent in Stroud”.
For example: http://stroudcommunity.tv/horsley-orchard-a-midcounties-co-operative-community-project/

 

Gloucester City Community Orchards

Green Farm Community Orchard (Local Nature Reserve) search “Green Farm” on the Gloucester City Council website www.gloucester.gov.uk

Barnwood Park and Arboretum. Orchard of nine local varieties of apple planted in 2009 by Friends of Barnwood Arboretum. Barnwood Park, off Church Lane or Cherston Court. For more information, please contact Ron and Elaine Keasley 01452 533480  ronkeasley@yahoo.com  http://www.barnwoodarboretumpark.yolasite.com/

Community Orchard Project, Willow Way, Coney Hill.

Clock Tower Community Orchard, Coney Hill

Katie Wren katie.wren@gloucester.gov.uk and Jane Cox of Gloucester City Council

01452 396937 for more information on the above.

Longlevens Allotment Association/Longlevens Parish Council

Diamond Jubilee Orchard, Wendy Abbott-Wright

Robinswood Hill Community Orchard
Owned by Gloucester City Council, but managed by Nicola Simpson, Gloucester Community Development Officer
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Conservation Centre,
Robinswood Hill Country Park   Mobile: 07787 511932/Main Switchboard: 01452 383333    nicola.simpson@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk

 

Cotswolds Community Orchards

Cotswold Tree Warden Group/coordinator Ann Jones twgcotswold@yahoo.co.uk www.cotswoldtreewardengroup.org.uk

are hoping to get Big Tree Plant funding for Moreton-in-Marsh to create a community orchard and other funding to assist other parishes.

Cutsdean Community Orchard, Jeanette Smith

01386 584379 Smith.rainbowsend@gmail.com

Kemble Community Allotments (with small orchard), Gabi Somerville

07900 907685 gabi.s@hotmail.co.uk

Lower Slaughter Parish Orchard, Tony Litchfield anthony.litchfield@sky.com

01451 820281

Cirencester Allotment Orchard, David Ryan 01285 655376

ryan@15queen.freeserve.co.uk

Potential Coates Parish Council Orchard, David Lattimore david.lattimore@btinternet.com

Potential CO Sapperton Parish Council, Paul Dingley (Tree Warden)

01285 760788

Whiteway Community Orchard Group and Ebworth Centre visits, Hugh Shewring 01285 821872 hughshewring@gmail.com

Avening Parish Council Community Orchard 01453 751823

parishclerk@avening-pc.gov.uk

Bisley Orchard Group/Oakridge Community Composting Group (Cotswold Tree Warden Ann Jones, above, knows their contact person)

Chedworth Diggers, Joanne Leigh (community juicing) 01285 720091

Cirencester Hospital Orchard apple days.

Buckland & Laverton Community Orchard (provisional, early stage only 2012) on 2 acres of parish land near Broadway. Mike Deakin chairman of Buckland parish council Mike Deakin deakinhome@btinternet.com

Framlington Village, near Hidcote (old tapestry/apple map & orchard)

Conderton Overbury Community Orchard (Gloucestershire, GL20)

Painswick Community Orchard c/o Iris & Greg McCormick. Hold apple days, community juicing, parish orchard map in Painswick library, school fruit tree planting/wassailing.
01452 812879 greg.iris@btinternet.com  www.painswickcommunityorchard.co.uk

Potential Lechlade Estate, Coln Park, c/o Ben Pollard bpollard@colnlakes.com

Bourton on the Water Parish Council Community Orchard

Planted 2012. Contact Tree Warden Sue Pacini 01451 822465 brunosuep@talktalk.net

Sustainable Campden (coming soon!)

Tetbury Community Orchard http://feoffeesoftetbury.co.uk/  Apple trees planted with 40 different community groups March 2013.

Bentham fruit juicing from local orchards Amy Jeffs amyjeffs0@gmail.com

Ampney Community mini-Orchard    contact Ann Jones of Cotswold Tree Wardens for more information twgcotswold@yahoo.co.uk  Includes Ampney Red Gloucestershire heritage apple variety

Quenington Apple Day (possible) contact Ruth Parsons ruthparsons@woodland-learning.co.uk  01285 750679 for more info.

Daglingworth Millennium Green Community Orchard  30 old varieties of apple, cherry & plum trees planted year 2000. Tim Donohoe tim.donohoe@zen.co.uk

 

Forest of Dean Community Orchards

Clearwell (new for 2012) at Tudor Farmhouse Hotel c/o Colin and Hari Fell, assisted by local Clearwell School and orchardist Martin Hayes.
www.tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk

Berry Hill Community Orchard:  Westdean Parish Council (Neighbourhood Development Plan) and the Forestry Commission are developing a community orchard near Nine Wells in Berry Hill.
Councillor Tim Gwilliam   timgwilliam@yahoo.co.uk

Lydney Community Orchard (proposed)    Rachel Reeves rachiereeves@aol.com

 

Bristol Area Community Orchards

South Gloucestershire Council now have a large range of orchard support, activities and community orchards, some of which are not listed below. Please visit their website Environment then Orchards or:

http://www.southglos.gov.uk/NR/exeres/f0121b68-c8c5-4001-b521-e55500f2a957#mast

John Morris JohnV.Morris@southglos.gov.uk (plus Sally Pattison)

Also look out for Graham White (Mr. Fruit, see below for contact details). Also, Neil Phillips of The Scrumping Project (community juice & cider making and orchard photography) 07885 214291 neilphillipsphoto@btopenworld.com

  • Frampton Cotterell Community Orchard, The Glebe Land (off Brookside Close), Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, BS36 2AF
  • Winterbourne Medieval Barn Growing Space, Church Lane, Winterbourne, Bristol, BS36 1SE
  • Coalpit Heath Community Garden, Coalpit Heath, Bristol, BS36 2TG
  • Emerson Green Community Orchard, Emerson Green, Bristol

Contact Graham White for all four above: mrfruit@btinternet.com 01454 778065/07894 165026

  • Metford Road Orchard, North Bristol

metford_orchard@yahoo.co.uk

  • Fishponds Community Orchard (formerly Thingwall Park Community Orchard) Bristol

Charles Farina charlesfarina1@gmail.com  0117 9655553

and Irene Blessitt iblessitt@hotmail.com  0117 9658429

  • Horfield Organic Community Orchard (HOCO) Bristol

www.community-orchard.org.uk  hocohello@gmail.com

Shannon Smith  0117 3731587

  • Redland Green Community Orchard, Bristol
  • Grimsbury Farm, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire (part of the Tree Life Centre run by adults with learning difficulties)

Katherine Kearns, Katherine.kearns@southglos.gov.uk 01454 865877

  • Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve Community Orchard, Bradley Stoke (Patchway Common), South Gloucestershire

John Morris, johnv.morris@southglos.gov.uk   01454 863581

  • Common East Community Orchard, Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire

Lucy Hamid, Patchway Conservation Group, clerk@patchwaytowncouncil.gov.uk  01454 868530

  • Wickwar Community Orchard, Andy Poole and South Gloucestershire Council

01454 299773 Wotton under Edge area. andy-sally@andy-sallypoole.wanado.co.uk

  • Willsbridge Mill, Avon Wildlife Trust education centre
  • Oldbury Power Station Orchard
  • Cock Road Ridge, Kingswood
  • Sustainable Thornbury Grow Your Own, has a new tentative Friends Group
  • Old Station, Mangotsfield, along the Bristol-Bath cycle track
  • Stockwood Open Space, Bristol, Caroline Mawer cas.jim@tiscali.co.uk
  • Memorial Woodlands; the woodland cemetery near Thornbury

 

Other Community Orchards

Churchdown Community Orchard at Churchdown Park (Churchdown Parish Council, off Parton Road), open on request and for picking – contact Ann Smith info@gloucestershireorchardtrust.org.uk  01452 855677. Bottom left of park, between allotments and Nature Reserve. Young trees. Free leaflet available from Ann or Parish Council offices 01452 713528.

Highleadon Green Association, John Wells 01452 790332 tubbyjohn@hotmail.com

Vell Mill Nature Reserve, near Dymock, Community Orchard run by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust 01452 533333, including memorial plantings.

Gwen & Veras Fields Nature Reserve and Orchard, near Newent, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust 01452 533333.

Potential Longney & Epney Community Orchard, Susanna Finzy

Potential Charlton Kings parish land, Max Greenall 01242 580048

Proposed Northway Community Orchard, near Tewkesbury, community wildlife officer Jo Worthy-Jones of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust jo.worthy-jones@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk 01452 533333.

Potential Hardwicke Community Orchard, near Gloucester, Conservation Group and orchard Rick Jordan 01452 720695

Deerhurst/Apperley Heritage Apple Trail

The trail we planted over a period of 2 years is making progress with 28 trees, including the rare Apperley apple variety PARLOUR DOOR {see Charles Martell’s apple book on the GOT website}. It spans from the Priory at Deerhurst to Lower Apperley. One resident has added to the trail by planting an orchard of 13 heritage varieties near the River Severn. I am also setting up a website called Apperley and Deerhurst History Alive and a whole page is devoted to the emergence of the trail. I hope to produce a leaflet for the trail.      www.apperleydeerhursthistory.co.uk
Rose Williams (artist) rosewilliams@coloursfresh.co.uk

Friends of Weavers Field (was old orchard, some trees remain), Weavers Hill, Warden Hill, Cheltenham c/o John Putley  john.putley@yahoo.com

Friends of Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve and Community Orchard, Cheltenham
This was set up in 2012 to improve and maintain a small nature reserve here in Leckhampton, Cheltenham. The reserve contained within its boundaries a small area of flat land in which we have created a community orchard. We have designated the area as “Pilley Bridge Community Orchard” and have been able to obtain some significant funding to improve access, signage, seating etc. within the area. We have planted some native Gloucestershire fruit trees (apple and pear) sourced from Rob Watkins of Lodge Farm Trees, Rockhampton. The project, albeit relatively new,. is ongoing and we have set up an orchard sub-committee under the main ‘Friends’ group to move the project forward. We view the project as a valuable community amenity for education and general leisure interest and have received considerable support and help from the local community.     Rob Dewey Orchard sub-Committee 01242 512340   M: 07926 032081   rob.dewey@tesco.net

www.pilleybridge.org.uk

Albemarle Community Orchard Garden Group, Cheltenham at Pittville

Vince Norvill vince@yourperfectpad.com

Kingswood/Wotton Under Edge Community Orchard

Behind Katherine Lady Berkley School. 100 trees in 2015. Rob Austin rob@dfsales.co.uk

 

Other Archived Information – to be reformatted for the new site:

We have also produced leaflets entitled:

We also produce an annual Apple/Orchard Day Listing Around Gloucestershire.   for 2011:  http://www.gloucestershireorchardgroup.org.uk/community/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=194

All of the above are available to download. You are welcome to use them, but please credit GOT.

GOT can not be held responsible for inaccuracies.

Community groups can upload their events on our Community Events page at any time of the year  www.gloucestershireorchardgroup.org.uk/community/

Enjoy celebrating our wonderful heritage! Common Ground initiated the concept of Apple Day (around 21 October) and of Community Orchards.

Plum Days are usually in August and Perry Pear Days are in September/October. There are even National Quince and Damson Days – more details from Ann Smith (GOT coordinator) or, if you join GOT, you will automatically be kept up to date with relevant news and dates.  http://www.gloucestershireorchardgroup.org.uk/members/

Setting up/managing a community orchard

  • Common Ground has written the Community Orchards Handbook (£10, 2008, revised 2011 £15) & other literature and a directory of community orchards nationwide.

Gold Hill House, 21 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8JE +44(0)1747 850820 info@commonground.org.uk  www.commonground.org.uk

  • Chichester District Council Guide to Setting up and Managing a Community Orchard.  Available to download as a PDF from their website www.chichester.gov.uk

Follow the links within Environment & Planning: Biodiversity.

  • Community Orchard Guide (2011)

The community orchards guide – part of a series of booklets being produced by the government to cut out red tape and make it easier for people to get the information they need to get involved – brings together in one place practical advice and guidance for green fingered enthusiasts who want to make the most of green spaces in their area. The guide outlines what new and existing support and powers are available for communities wanting to conserve or create community orchards. It provides links to expert organisations, information on where to go for funding and examples of communities across the country busy preparing to harvest their latest crop.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1973439