A DAY of care for a fledgling community fruit orchard is taking place in Redditch this weekend, and everyone is invited to take part.
A group of volunteers will be welcoming anyone that wants to join in with pruning, mowing, weeding and raking at the orchard in the grounds of the Abbey Stadium on Sunday.
The project has been organised by Transition Town Redditch in partnership with residents and Redditch Borough Council.
The group planted fruit trees near the Abbey Stadium in 2015, with funding from The Cooperative Group’s Community Dividend Fund, to create a pleasant place to be, a haven for wildlife, and fruit for community use. Volunteers have kept the new orchard in shape since then and residents can join in the latest tidy-up day on Sunday between 11am and 2pm. Meet at the entrance to the Abbey Stadium at 11am or later on the banks around the running track and the area behind the football pitch.
Sturdy footwear is strongly advised. Hot drinks and cake will be brought and shared on the day, and people can contribute too if they like.
Transition Town Redditch is a voluntary group finding practical solutions to low-carbon/sustainable living.
Simon Venables, its chair, said: “We hope the community orchard can provide food as well as outdoor and community activities, in contrast to the often damaging industrial-scale food production we have come to rely on.”
Local voluntary network BARN supports the project via its Bromsgrove and Redditch Open Spaces (BROS) group.
Alistair Waugh, BROS project worker, added: “Join us on the day and see what it’s all about. There will be other sessions soon too, including sowing wildflower seed at the orchard.”
The orchard includes apples, including the Doddin apple which is unique to the Redditch area, pears, plums, greengages, damsons, cherries, quince and medlars.
