Steyning Community Orchard News: April 2018

The Steyning Community Orchard is growing apace – in more ways than one.  The orchard in the Memorial Playing Field is settling in, trees are awakening, buds are ready to burst - the January Wassail worked its magic!

Now this project is up and running we have begun a new orchard in partnership with the SDS on the approach to the Rifle Range in the Big Picnic Field. If you walk along the path towards the Rifle Range, now aptly named by many 'Nightingale Lane', you will see a fenced area with newly planted trees, boles of wood, a willow den and a wooden xylophone.  This is the Steyning Downland Orchard (SDO).

It is an orchard area with the focus on toddlers and the young - a place where mums can bring their children and know that they may safely play and crawl on the grass.

At the same time, they will be able to experience the sense of open space, watch the orchard growing and enjoy the natural spring flowers like snowdrops, crocuses (or croci??), primroses and cowslips.

A hedge has now been planted around the area – reintroducing native species and providing another corridor for wildlife, linking in with the hedge planted along its  eastern border four years ago.

In addition to these projects we help and advise on two other orchards - one old, unmaintained and currently being restored in the grounds of a rest home; the other in Bramber, opposite St Mary's House, called the Bramber Community Orchard and. like the SDO, completely new.  8 apple trees have just been planted there.

It has been so encouraging to have the interest and support of the community in our progress. We will celebrate with them at our annual events - the Apple Day (6th October 2018) and at next year's January Wassail.  These events are in part the source of our funding together with grants and private donations.

Some people have asked whether these areas might become orchard meadows. The idea is most appealing, but in reality the soil, both in the MPF and the SDO, is so rich that vigorous grass growth suppresses any downland wildflowers that may be hiding there. But on the MPF this year the snowdrops were beautiful but will now have faded, whilst the wild daffodils, bluebells, primroses and cowslips should be at their best.

We are working with the younger generation in our orchards through our wonderful and inventive Youth Officer, Ronnie Reed.  The Primary School, Cubs, Beavers and Woodcraft Folk, can arrange to come on summer evenings to play and learn about what we are doing and why. Nothing is more exciting than watching youngsters enjoying open spaces and learning to understand their environment.

Our next Community Orchard activity will be on the opening day of the Steyning Festival  the 26th May when together with other Steyning  “green” organisations, we will set up displays around the Big Top Tent talking about what we do. Please do come and have a chat with us.

More information about us and our Orchards:
Email: steyningorchard@gmail.com
Facebook.com/steyningcommunityorchard
Twitter: @StCommOrchard
WebPage: steyningcommunityorchard.or