Warrington community group wins Land Trust award

Westbrook and Callands communities were awarded the Best Friends of Group award in this year’s Land Trust awards. They were awarded in recognition for their outstanding work in establishing and maintaining a Community Orchard in Warrington.

The Orchard was established in January 2018 with the planting of 40 fruit trees on Land Trust land adjacent to a key cycleway running through the west of Warrington. Since then, the trees have matured well and produced substantial crops of fruit for the benefit of the community.

Seating benches and raised flower beds have also been installed by community volunteers, with the help of local schoolchildren. Pupils of the nearby St. Philip’s Primary School regularly visit the Orchard to help with bulb planting and use the site as an outdoor classroom, learning about the importance of nature.

The Friends of Westbrook & Callands Community Orchard have achieved a huge amount, bringing the community to this site which was rarely used before. Funding has been raised with the help of The Omega Partnership, Cheshire Community Foundation, and Gulliver’s World.

Alan Carter, Director of Operations at the Land Trust, said:

“This fantastic group has made a real difference to the people of Westbrook, Callands and the surrounding areas in Warrington.  They’ve helped provide opportunities for children to learn about the nature that sits on their doorstep, and encouraged more people to spend time in this peaceful green escape.

“This demonstrates what can be achieved within a community by working in conjunction with local organisations, and encouraging the community to take some ownership of their local spaces. It’s a great example of what the Land Trust aims to achieve in all its sites.”