Orchard

Over the past two winters, we’ve been transforming two of our allotment plots into vibrant orchards. We began by clearing the ground and planting a rich mix of fruit trees, including heritage varieties of apples, pears, peaches, figs, and extra plum trees to accompany the mature plum and cherry trees we were lucky enough to inherit on plot 15. Alongside these, we’ve added soft fruits and some wonderfully unusual varieties — honeyberries, huckleberries, golden raspberries, thornless blackberries, red gooseberries, and many more. To support pollinators and encourage healthy soil, we sowed wildflowers around the orchards, creating a colourful, bee-friendly environment. Now in their second year, these young orchards are flourishing, with healthy growth, early fruits, and a growing buzz of life amongst the colourful wild flowers.