Little Shelford Community Orchard

Open Day and Work Party at Little Shelford Community Orchard and Woodland

On Sunday 16th May the SCOWP team will be at work in Blennie’s Patch cutting some of the meadow grass, watering and mulching around the trees and generally tidying up. All are welcome to drop by, have a chat about our progress and plans for this year and the longer term, and lend a hand if you wish. Wheelbarrows, grass rakes, small shovels etc. would be useful. You may even like to try your hand at scything (adults only in suitable footwear. Please be aware that Covid 19 restrictions are still in force and you are responsible for keeping to them in terms of group sizes and distancing. Feel free to bring some food and drink for a picnic if you would like to.

Fingers crossed for good weather and we look forward to seeing you there.

Mike, Gill, Neil, Collette, Robert and Julie.

Little Shelford's proposed community orchard received just over £3,000 in December 2020 from South Cambridgeshire's Zero Carbon community grant scheme.

You will hopefully have heard about Shelford Community Orchard and Woodland Project (SCOWP).

Little Shelford Parish Council suggested in 2019 that part of Blennie’s Patch next to the allotments be used for a community project to promote a greener Little Shelford by planting new trees and to encourage children to be more aware of their environment whilst developing an under-used resource.

The area is a one acre paddock beyond the allotments in Garden Fields. Currently they have planted three rowan trees, and plan to purchase nine apple trees of various varieties for planting this winter.

More than 200 Hedging whips and oak saplings have been sourced for free. The centre of the plot will be developed as a grass meadow to encourage wild flowers and a diverse ecosystem, with log piles and bird and bat boxes to be installed.

A core group of volunteers has since been working on a plan, planting the first three trees, cutting a walking path around the plot and applying for grants to help fund the project. You can follow their progress and add your input on our social media pages (Facebook and Twitter).

Their aim is to develop the area into an orchard and small woodland that can be shared and enjoyed by the community all year round and provide fruit in the autumn. It is envisaged that school groups will use the area and they are already involved, having held a competition to design the SCOWP logo.