What will be in the next 25 editions?

For edition 151 we will have the launch of our new Cider and Perry boxes and bottles.  They’re clearing and maturing nicely, ready for the summer and the BBQ season.

Further on we hope to support some older orchards with our charitable status giving access to Grants. Working with the restoration of the Canal will be important too.

With the good weather coming, you can join us in Coneygree Orchard on an occasional Saturday and enjoy some fresh air and exercise by ringing Kevin (827401) or Tom (823425)

Looking back over ECN Editions 125 to 150

Foundation

ECO Group was set up after the Vibrant Village success, when we saw that several previous winners had a Community Orchard.  After the OHMG and the Allotments, we had to have an orchard!

The Parish Council gave us the £500 prize money and rented us the Reserve Burial Ground.  

On the old maps it’s called Coneygree Orchard, a medieval name for rabbit warren.

Building Coneygree Orchard

I say “building” rather than “planting” because we spend far more time building fruit cages, tree guards (against the rabbits), fences and pathways than actually planting or pruning trees. In the photo you can see there are more posts than trees or fruit bushes.

Waiting for fruit from Coneygree – Apple Days are born

To pay for the trees (and the posts and the path….) we had the bright idea of gathering apples and pears that nobody wanted. “Legalised Scrumping” John called it!  Sales over four years have grossed £5,000, collecting from 48 gardens and orchards in September and October.

Kevin, the Orchard Warden, has logged 2,000 hours of effort in the four years of work parties so far, involving 27 people, with a core of a dozen. There are now 58 trees, the first ten of which will be able to bear fruit this year.

We have the public Apple Day on or near 19th October at the OHMG.  Around 40 people help out during that day, of all ages, learning and applying new skills.