Volunteers create Crosstown Community Orchard in Knutsford

Crosstown Community Orchard – which is located off Mobberley Road, behind Mallard Close – is now home to 38 varied fruit trees.

Trustees at Crosstown Community Orchard in Knutsford

A grant from the Tree Council provided funds to purchase an array of different apple, pear, plum, cherry and damson trees, alongside the less common medlar, greengage and quince.

Trustees worked with Morrey’s Nursery to select the right mix of trees to ensure cross pollination, and volunteers worked in socially-distanced shifts to create the orchard last Thursday, with expert guidance from Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

Alison Jones was one of the volunteers to lend a hand

Adam Keppel-Green, chairman of Crosstown Community Orchard, says it is just the beginning for 'what will be an amazing community asset'.

He said: “Last summer this was just an idea I had in my head, but thanks to the work of my fellow trustees and the efforts of our volunteers we’ve brought that idea to life.

Volunteer Nick Turton at the community orchard

“On behalf of the trustees I’d like to thank the volunteers who came to help plant the orchard, it was so rewarding for us to look across the orchard at the end of the day and see that after a few months of discussion we’ve created something great for the community.”

The orchard will be cared for and shared by the community, and once fully developed, residents will have access to the fruit for their own use.

Stuart Jones was one of the volunteers to lend a hand

Crosstown Community Orchard also received £1,000 from David Wilson Homes towards the project, which will go towards setting up the site.

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The charity is now working on the next phase of developing the open space, with plans for planting a border of wild harvest saplings provided by the Woodland Trust and installing benches, bird boxes and a bin.

For more information see crosstowncommunityorchard.org.uk