New community orchard

In 2014, the council, with the assistance of RCGC, set aside a stretch of land behind St Oswald's Road for a new flowering meadow. Unfortunately, the council's plans to maintain the meadow did not come to fruition, and in the years since, the area has become a tangle of brambles, and these were not being controlled when the rest of the Green was mowed. Not without wildlife value in their own right, brambles have a propensity to spread vigorously, and so control needed to be re-established. 

The idea of an orchard to replace this wilderness took root, and RGCG offered to pay for it. Mature orchards are great for biodiversity; and growing fruit trees will contribute to the wildlife diversity of which pollinating insects and a fundamental and essential part.

Twenty four local residents turned out on a dry and mild Sunday in mid-February to cut the brambles back. Armed with a small chipper, the brambles were turned into compostable material (more and welcome organic matter for ever-insatiable local allotment tenants) and some bramble bundles were placed around the Dell - to try and restrict access in the Dell where constant tampling over the last 3 or so years has resulted in a badly de-vegetated understory. This itself is a risk for the trees there, as it contributes to soil erosion. 

Finally, the fruit trees were planted: two each of apple and cherry, one plum and three pear trees.  Each tree was surrounded with a weed resistant mat, bark chippings, and, for protection, cut brambles, rather than tree cages. The trees have been spaced at intervals which will permit council contractors to mow between them and suppress any regrowth of brambles, and other vigorous weeds.