Steyning Community Orchard – April News
On Saturday 20th February three groups of Steyning residents planted fruit trees that they had donated in the Memorial Playing Field. This brought the total number of new trees to eleven and for the first time fruit other than apples were planted: a pear and a greengage.
Lorraine and Rob Fowley donated a Beurre Hardy pear in memory of their father-in-law, Richard Fossey and this was planted by Lorraine. This traditional variety came from France and dates back to about 1820. David and Sandra Humphreys donated and planted the greengage tree. This was an Early Transparent Gage, first recorded in Hertfordshire in 1866 and bred by Thomas Rivers.
Jane Oxley and her family planted an apple tree in memory of her grandfather Samuel Durrant Oxley, the man who first brought electricity to Steyning by setting up a generator in his shop (now Bunces) in the High Street. One of his grandchildren, two great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren took part in the planting of a Hawkridge Sussex heritage variety apple, first recorded in Hailsham before 1851.
On 5th March 2016, four more trees were planted, bringing the total number of new trees to fifteen. Two were plums, an 'Opal' planted by Val Whittaker in memory of her daughter Victoria Jackson and a 'Purple Pershore' planted by Vivien Coates in memory of her husband John Aylmer Coates. A Quince, 'Meeches' was donated by Felicity and Charles Prescott and a Pear, 'Doyenne du Comice' was planted by Community Orchard stalwart, Simon Zec in memory of his mum Sandy Zec.
A team of hard-working volunteers turned out to assist with the planting, digging holes and driving in posts to support protective wire fences around the trees.
Primrose Court
Steyning Community Orchard began a new venture on Friday 26th April 2016: restoring the orchard at Primrose Court, Goring Road. A team of volunteers, led by Roger Brown, planted eight fruit trees, installed protective fences around them and made a start on clearing around and caring for the surviving original trees.
New Website
You can find out more about Steyning Community Orchard and keep up to date with the latest activities and plans on our new website at www.steyningcommunityorchard.com. You can also keep up-to-date with our events on our Facebook page: facebook.com/steyningcommunityorchard.
