We are a community volunteer group set up to bring Grayshott Community Orchard into being, to be a free to use resource of locally-grown, seasonal fresh fruit for our Grayshott community to enjoy.
We aim to provide a community mental health resource. By creating a place for quiet reflection. We have installed 4 park benches for people to relax and enjoy the space. The orchard will be a focus for community events, social cohesion, activities and learning about the natural environment. We intend to involve local schools and other community groups such as the Scouts in the community orchard as a learning resource.
We have a wildlife zone with a bug hotel and dead hedges. We are also growing a wildlife friendly mixed hedge, for creatures to forage and have installed bird boxes.
We have planted 35 different varieties of mainly locally grown fruit trees which should capture about 0.75 tonnes of CO2 annually, when established. They have been selected for biodiversity and to give users a number of varieties of fruit not often found in supermarkets.
Following extensive research we now have a 15 year licence from Beech Allotments Charity for use of the land as an orchard. We have had dialogue with leaders of other Community Orchard Projects, tree suppliers and The Hampshire Forest Partnership who have helped with deer fencing, tree supply from the Tree Council and hedging from Tree Conservation Volunteers and other general advice
We have a Constitution and created a management committee with 3 officers and other members including one Parish Councillor.
We have set up a bank account with Nat West and have met with several funding agencies learning about available sources of essential capital finance.
We have generously been donated £2600 by The Hidden Gardens of Grayshott to enable us to commence activities
We have set up Public and Employee Liability Insurance (to cover volunteers)
We have made the land fit for the purpose of planting an orchard.
The Parish Council arranged for the clearance of the huge overgrowth of nettles, brambles and other pernicious weeds and to mow the grass, to clean up the site so planting by our volunteers could begin
The Wildlife Area was developed by adding all fallen dead wood to the log-pile in a new improved location.
Subsequent tree pruning has also created some material to start a second dead hedge.
Overhanging dead and dying trees are being made safe by volunteers and where necessary for safety reasons, a contractor. This will have the double advantage of allowing essential light to the site without which our planting opportunity will be severely limited.
We will need subsequently to add to our team of volunteers to maintain the area free of unwanted growth and ultimately to harvest and enjoy the fruit.
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