Our community orchard takes root at Lords Mead
There's something very satisfying about planting a tree, knowing that long after you've gone home, it will keep growing, flowering and producing fruit for generations to come!
That was exactly the feeling at the end of our community orchard planting day at Lords Mead on 22nd March, where residents of all ages came together to plant 30 new fruit trees. It was a brilliant day filled with teamwork and a shared excitement about creating something that will benefit the whole community for decades!
The idea for the orchard came about when local resident Melody Thompson got in touch with us to suggest a patch of neglected land that would make a wonderful orchard. It was a brilliant idea, and we were delighted to help bring it to life!
We successfully applied for a climate and ecological grant from Chippenham Town Council to fund improvements to the site including signage, a new gate and rainwater harvesting. We were also thrilled to welcome charity Freely Fruity, who kindly donated the fruit trees and protection cages, and travelled from Berkshire to help run the planting day.
Lords Mead is their third community orchard outside Berkshire, and it's fantastic to see Chippenham becoming part of their growing network of community orchards across the UK.
At the heart of the community
Together, we planted a wonderful mix of apple, pear, plum, damson, gage, medlar and cherry trees. Each variety was carefully chosen not only for delicious fruit, but also for its value to pollinators, local wildlife and future community harvests. The Deputy Mayor of Chippenham, Councillor Matthew Bragg, officially opened the orchard with a wonderful speech for all the residents who took part.
The orchard couldn't have a better home. Sitting opposite St Peter's Church and St Peter's School, and backing onto Bumpers Farm and Frogwell residents, it's right at the heart of the community. Both the church and school have been incredibly supportive, and we're looking forward to working with local residents, families and volunteers to care for the orchard as it grows.
Free, local fruit for generations
In years to come, the orchard will provide free, locally grown fruit, support wildlife, improve biodiversity and create a welcoming green space where people can learn, volunteer or simply enjoy spending time outdoors. We also hope it will become a place for school visits, community events and hands-on learning about food growing and nature.
Projects like this only happen because people come together. We're hugely grateful to everyone who volunteered their time, to Melody for inspiring the project, to Freely Fruity for being such fantastic partners, and to Chippenham Town Council, whose Ecological Grant helped make the orchard possible.
Now comes the important part - helping the young trees establish. Every watering can and every hour of care will help ensure these trees thrive and become a lasting legacy for Chippenham. If you'd like to help us, please do get in touch to find out more!
