* Click on Images for Photo Gallery
After a long period of cold and rainy weather, the soil was very wet and there was not much sign of spring at Jesmond Community Orchard in Feb 2010.
A hardy band of diggers was out planting more fruit, inlcuding a fine row of raspberries, some red- and blackcurrants, gooseberries and a blackberry. Pride of place has gone to a sweet almond tree, which produces beautiful pink flowers and may even bear some nuts.
Footpaths constructed by the Groundwork Trust were finished in March 2010 and are now leading from the main cemetery path to the paved seating area, as well as across the whole length of the site with a turning circle at the end. They are enabling disabled visitors to access the orchard.
Gil rode her trusty trike in the Jesmond Community Festival Parade on Sat 13 March 2010 bedecked with apple related paraphernalia. At the Grand Festival Fair visitors and supporters alike gathered around the displays of the Jesmond Community Orchard stall to see the orchards progress and discuss future plans.
A family activity afternoon was held on Sun 14 March 2010 at the orchard grounds including the construction of bird and bat boxes, drawing and making apple collages, planting wild flowers, and dressing scarecrows.
Just after Easter 2010 a working party dug, broke soil, raked and finally seeding grass across the orchard to turn it into a pleasant area for future picnics and events.
Northumbrian Water have given a helping hand to Jesmond Community Orchard through their Community Foundation Green Scheme Fund, by awarding a grant of more than £500 towards land improvement ready for planting a range of new trees.
Jane Morland, Corporate Responsibility Team Leader at Northumbrian Water visited the group. She said:
"The Northumbrian Water Green Fund was set up with the Community Foundation back in 1991 to support projects that enhance the environment and make a long-term difference to the communities we serve.
"Our support for community projects goes beyond financial assistance and we look forward to working with the Orchard in the coming months. Northumbrian Water employees will be preparing the ground for grass-seeding through our employee volunteering scheme, and we will be donating water butts to save water for dry spells."
On Sun 16 May a small group prepared the areas around the seating area.
Sleepers were brought on to the site for later creating raised beds. A weed suppressing membrane was applied to later be covered with wood chippings and planted through. Finally, the triangle between the path, the seating area and the almond tree was dug over and planted up with lavender and other herbs so it resembled a 'parterre'.
Jesmond Community Orchard was celebrating its first year of achievements with an AGM and social event on 22 June 2010 at the British Legion Club in Jesmond. In that time the orchard had turned from a fantasy into a reality, with dozens of local families and individuals joining in planting and other activities.
in July 2010
A group of volunteers from Northumbria Water got stuck in at the orchard and further transformed the ground clearing more of the area, building raised beds and planting around the site. Their efforts were well appreciated - Thank you!
Helped by continual sunshine instead of the forecasted torrential rain, about 12 people came together at the orchard - some just to look around and others brought picnics and blankets. People shared pizza, cake, plums, apples and dates. Some visitors enthusiastically sowed seeds we had provided, hoed the raspberry bed while the grape and red currant bushes were weeded. A truely enjoyable and very peaceful afternoon at the orchard!
The Apple Day on Sat 9 Oct 2010 at the Jesmond Community Orchard attracted around 200 people, including Jon Emberey, who walked away with a prize pot of Jesmond honey from Roger Stobbart’s bees at West Jesmond Allotments. Jon was this year’s winner of the longest apple peel competition, with a stunning 161 centimetres.
Although the weather was gloomy, the rain held off and didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of visitors for grinding and pressing apples into juice. The most popular attraction was Clifford Cain of Fruitscape who had travelled from Sheffield to hold an apple clinic and to identify unknown apple varieties. He brought with him dozen of apple types for comparison. There were plenty of activities for all the family, including a story-telling tent with former librarian Ann Key, a fruit-shy and apple dangling. Younger children were invited into the orchard to identify hidden “gardener’s friends” in the form of pottery insects, birds and mammals created by Gil O’Connell. Other stalls included food made from apples, apple tasting, crafts and books. Donations raised at the event will go towards further development of the orchard, including possibly a solar-powered pump to raise water for the site.
On the afternoon of Sun 24 Oct 2010 the Orchard welcomed visitors for spooky fun for all the family. Amidst hanging skeletons and monstrous spiders children and their parents carved pumpkins, assembled bird boxes, created scary masks, and dared to face Jesmond’s very own storytelling wicked witch. With the event a big success, we’d like to thank local shops Stewart & Co, Tesco and Sainsbury’s for donating the pumpkins.
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