New Community Orchard Planted in Westbrook, Warrington

Dozens of fruit trees have been planted in Westbrook, Warrington to create a new community orchard along a Greenway between Westbrook and Callands, thanks to an initiative by local residents and the Land Trust charity.

The Trust, which owns the regenerated Westbrook to Dallam Greenway, is working with a group of enthusiastic residents, the Friends of Westbrook Orchard, to plant apple, pear, damson and cherry trees.

The Friends group has so far raised more than £3,500 to fund the first 40 trees which will then be available for local residents to harvest fruit and use as an outdoor classroom.

Around a dozen volunteers joined contractor Continental Landscapes and the Land Trust at the first planting day at the end of January.  The Friends will take on the long term management of the orchard, organising harvest events and public signage.

The Land Trust charity, which has its national headquarters in Birchwood, is keen to give the Friends group every support. Landscape and community officer Mary Doyle said:

“This is a fantastic project to create a wonderful new orchard which can be enjoyed by everyone.

“We are happy to give the Friends group our full support. They deserve great credit for coming up with the idea and then getting the project off the ground. Green spaces, particularly in urban areas, are very important for health and well-being. By planting trees which not only look beautiful but are also productive, the new orchard is set to become a great community resource which will literally bear fruit for many years to come.”