One of our main aims is to help connect local communities with tree planting projects in their area. This not only provides a fun day of tree planting in the fresh winter air, but also an opportunity to continue to care for the trees and make lasting connections with fellow local residents. Community orchards offer these benefits and more, particularly in the form of fruit – enjoyed by people and wildlife alike!
Thanks to a generous grant from Defra’s King’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund we are supporting new community orchards across Hampshire, all involving local people in the design, planting and continued care of the trees.
Last winter, Hampshire Forest Partnership supported Wickham Community Centre to create a new community orchard of nine fruit trees, along with a new mixed native hedgerow. We recently caught up with Alison Neasom, Wickham Community Association Trustee, to discuss the process of securing funding and creating a community orchard from her point of view:
"We applied for funding to create a community orchard after seeing a poster for the Hampshire Forest Partnership in our local library. Whilst we were very keen to add some fruit trees to our community garden at Wickham Community Centre, we were unsure whether space would be appropriate for an orchard as the garden wraps round the building. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"The online enquiry form we completed was clearly laid out and led our steering group discussions into the reasons why we wanted the trees, and practicalities of what type, where they would be planted, and how the trees would be managed. We quickly received a response from Hampshire Forest Partnership Project Officer, Liz Keeling, and had a video call to discuss our needs, it was a great opportunity for us to have any questions answered. She asked us to complete the full application form which we did. After a couple of weeks, we had good news via email – our application had been successful, the fun could begin!
"We chose a local fund-approved fruit tree nursery. They helped us decide on the right fruit tree rootstocks, pollinator groups, stakes, and tree ties for our site, which were all funded by the Hampshire Forest Partnership."
Wickham Community Association Trustees hard at work helping plant their new orchard trees. Credit: Wickham Community Association Trust
We were keen to involve as many people as possible from the local community to help plant the orchard trees so held three planting events. We invited community groups who use Wickham Community Centre, including the Social Suppers, Wickham Pantry and Men’s Shed, children from the adjacent primary school, and we were delighted The Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Angela Clear, attended the community orchard planting.
It wouldn’t be England if we didn’t have both beautiful sunshine and torrential rain on the different planting days in March 2024. But the newly planted fruit trees are happy in their new homes, and the trees are already blossoming, which is very exciting.
We are delighted with the links the orchard has allowed us to build with the “Nature Club” of our local school, with pupils due to help at the community garden every month. We are planning a series of regular events celebrating the trees for our community groups, hopefully including cookery sessions once the trees start to fruit.
The Mayor of Winchester Councillor Angela Clear and members of Wickham Men’s Shed doing a fantastic job helping plant fruit trees on a very wet planting day. Credit: Wickham Community Association Trust.
We love hearing about Wickham Community Orchard as it establishes and look forward to hearing about it bearing fruit for its local community!
Are you feeling inspired to create a community orchard in your local area? Get in touch with the Hampshire Forest Partnership team at [email protected] to enquire about funding.
Find out more about tree planting opportunities for communities.
Wickham Community Orchard planting had some fantastic local press coverage