Local people invited to get involved in Thatcham community orchard

On Monday, September 9, orchard expert Andy Howard will be giving a talk about orchards, covering topics such as planning, wildlife value and local fruit varieties.
The talk is also a chance for people to find out more about the Heritage Lottery Fund-supported community orchard and how to get involved.
The community engagement officer with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford-shire Wildlife Trust’s Linking the Landscape project, Ed Sweetman, said that he was looking forward to meeting people who would like to help out with the project.
He said: “The idea of a community orchard came from Thatcham Town Council in 2010, and now we’re getting ready to plant the trees this winter.
“Local community groups will be planting 21 fruit trees, including local varieties such as Miller’s seedling, an apple that originated in a Newbury orchard, and Winston, an apple variety that originally came from Welford.”
He added: “This is a great opportunity for people to get involved with planting, pruning and family activities, such as a blossom picnic in spring, harvest festival in autumn and wassailing ceremony in winter [an ancient southern English ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year].
“Planting the community orchard on land beyond the car park at the Nature Discovery Centre is ideal, because it is close to where people live, and provides a habitat link between the gardens and hedgerows of houses in Lower Way with the wilder habitats at the lakes.”
The orchard talk in September is open to everyone, free and starts at 7pm at the centre in Muddy Lane.