New Community Orchard is a Lifeline for rare Wiltshire Apple Trees

The village community of Barford St Martin recently came together to plant a new traditional Community Orchard to help save a range of rare Wiltshire heritage apple trees.

This Community Orchard has been established by the Barford St Martin Community Fund, which has an impressive track record of raising funds for community projects that benefit village residents as well as supporting the environment and nature.

Research has shown that 90% of traditional orchards have been lost since the 1950s because of neglect or the development and growth of modern orchards.  It is apparent that if action is not taken, any remaining old orchards will disappear.

The rare Wiltshire apples that have been planted in Barford’s Community Orchard include ancient varieties such as Bedwyn Beauty, Burn’s Seedling, and Mary Barnett, the latter being raised in 1920 from a pip to celebrate her wedding day. 

Two other very local apples include Dredge’s Fame. This is Wiltshire’s oldest recorded apple, dating back to 1802 and grown by nurseryman William Dredge of Wishford, Salisbury.  Another local heritage apple tree is Choristers Boy, first recorded in 1890 and found in a Salisbury Garden.

Claire Elsworth, a Barford Community Fund committee member, has been coordinating the Community Orchard project and said, “Trees support our wellbeing and connect us to nature.  We are so thrilled that this project is now a reality, particularly as it is saving some of our precious heritage varieties of apple trees.   In the future, we will be organising many fun events in the orchard such as apple blossom days, pruning courses, Wassailing, apple pressing and more besides. We are keen to get children involved too, so that they can learn more about nature and the importance of growing and harvesting food.”

In addition to heritage apple trees, a range of other fruit trees, including traditional plums, pears, damsons, and crab apple trees, have been planted. In total, 20 different types of fruit trees were planted. 

Attractive wildflower areas will be grown together with seating areas for the community to sit and soak up the beauty of the blossom in early Spring.  In time, information boards detailing the rare apple tree varieties that have been planted and their history will be installed.

An important element of the Community Orchard is that it will be a fantastic habitat for local wildlife and will be home to a wide range of biodiversity, including butterflies, bumblebees, birds, bats, and beetles.

The Barford Community Fund was delighted to have received a part-funded FiPL grant through the Cranborne Chase Landscape Partnership. The Barford Community Fund Committee expressed its gratitude to the Barford St Martin Parish Council for its guidance and for providing a suitable site for the new Community Orchard.