Background
The year 2014 marked the centenary of the start of The First World War and the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. Following an open meeting at The University Primary Academy, Weaverham, on 17 December 2013 an Action Group was formed with a view to establishing a Community Orchard.
The Future of the Memorial Orchard
In 2015 the Woodland Trust kindly granted us some land at Thorn Wood in order to plant a Memorial Orchard in memory of all who served in two World Wars and in more recent conflicts. Initially individuals and groups were happy to sponsor trees and we were also able to raise money for capital expenditure on picnic benches, a notice board and an interpretation board. However, it is very difficult to find organisations prepared to help us with running costs such as insurance, submitting our accounts and hiring someone to do the annual grass cut, which together with a few minor expenses can cost up to £800 pa.
At our recent extraordinary meeting it was decided that we should therefore relinquish our lease and dissolve our company. This will mean that if there is any money left over after necessary expenditure it should be donated to a charity with similar aims. Our volunteers will register with the Woodland Trust and become Thorn Wood volunteers. This means that we will continue to look after the orchard as we have done in the past and our notice bard will continue to be used to remember those who served in past conflicts as well as providing information about wild flowers etc. In other words, we will largely continue as normal. The only difference will be that we will have no money of our own to provide or look after our amenities. For example, in order to encourage the growth of wild flowers The Woodland Trust will pay for our annual grass cut in the autumn. However, if we wish to arrange a service involving local schools, local churches and the local community in order to commemorate a special anniversary, as we have on a few occasions in the past, we will need another organisation to pay the necessary insurance. For similar insurance reasons we will not be able to wassail at the beginning of the year although the trees are now large enough.
Tina Johnson
orchard@weaverham.org.uk Orchard.weaverham.org.uk
Facebook.com/The Memorial Orchard
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Aims
- To establish an orchard in memory of all those who served in two World Wars and in more recent conflicts.
- To commemorate the centenary of the First World War.
- To save the Wareham Russet apple tree from extinction and to grow it alongside other Cheshire heritage fruit trees.
- To plant additional pocket orchards of Wareham Russet apple trees in the locality.
- To provide an amenity for Weaverham, Hartford, and neighbouring communities.
- To facilitate educational visits and social events.
Visit Us
The Memorial Orchard is in Thorn Wood on Northwich Road, just outside Weaverham.
WCMO have leased a plot of just under one acre from the Woodland Trust, who own Thorn Wood. The 25 year lease was signed in December 2015. The Orchard is to the right of the footpath as you go through the gate.
You may visit the Memorial Orchard at any time. We also plan to hold events such as Apple Days and Wassailing.
The Orchard: 2020
In February we planted 6 more Wareham Russets, to replace trees that had been lost, and 2 Hazel Pears. We are hopeful that this has now completed the planting phase, and we now need to focus on looking after our young trees to ensure that they become fully established
We are very grateful to Tom Adams who raised the grafts for us at his nursery near Oswestry, from scions that we provided in March last year.
Tom now has grafts of some of the varieties from our Orchard – including Wareham Russets – available for sale, see his website for details (https://www.tomtheappleman.co.uk/) .
We were lucky with the weather for our planting and we are beginning to get the hang of how to do it:
The layout is shown below:
In addition to the Wareham Russetts that we have planted in the Orchard, we have also donated or sold another 19 saplings to organisations or individuals in the Weaverham area. We hope that in this way, by ensuring that the new trees are spread around the village, we will be able to ensure that the future of the Wareham Russett is once again secure.
We were also very pleased to welcome Charles Cottle who visited us to help planting the Hazel Pear saplings. One of Charles’ relatives was a descendant of Sgt Thomas Moreton Gandy, 22nd Manchester Regiment, who was killed in action in France, March 1917. He is remembered on the Weaverham War Memorial.
By April the two Hazel Pears that were planted in February had taken well. As we have said before, many varieties of pear were used to dye uniforms khaki during the First World War. It is believed that the Hazel Pear, commonly grown in Acton Bridge, was one of them.
Well. COVID-19 may be rocking our world, but nature carries on regardless. During one of our recent daily walks, we’ve been checking on progress and the trees are just beginning to burst into blossom. Some of our Wareham Russetts are now 4 years old, and doing very well:
Some of the other varieties are also thriving, such as this Millicent Barnes, although others are later to flower:
However, It’s not all been plain sailing. Some of you will know that we also sowed some wildflower seed in October last year around the “Children’s Orchard” – our circle of 18 dwarf Warehams – but so far these don’t seem to have flourished. Never mind; we’ll try again.
And we are lucky enough to have a range of other wild flowers that are already established – such as these cowslips:
The bee hotels are also busy, although the residents wouldn’t stay still for long enough to pose for a photo.
Made by Fiona Casson and her father, we hope that these will help to encourage bees to visit our trees for pollination!
We intend to manage the orchard in an environmentally sensitive manner, and to share the harvest when the trees are mature. To help us in this respect we are always looking for volunteers to help with the ongoing maintenance such as weeding, pruning and litter-picking. We usually have fortnightly work mornings, especially during the summer months, and if you would like to join us please contact us here.
We hope the Memorial Orchard will become a reminder of Cheshire’s apple, pear and damson growing heritage, helping to preserve for everyone to taste and enjoy many old varieties once commonly grown in this area. We also hope it will provide a place of quiet reflection for us to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
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Weaverham and Hartford Community Memorial Orchard
Registed as a charity with HMRC in England and Wales (No. EW23706)
A non-profit making company incorporated at Companies House as a Company Limited by Guarantee.
Company number 9657902.
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