An apple a day …
by David Feather
Our orchard was planted as part of a nationwide project to create Community Orchards across the UK. There is a website called The Orchard Project which supports local efforts. It is worth looking at as it has lots of interesting information and some recipes.
The site even has Primary School lesson plans for teachers. They comprise a selection of activities and lesson plans to teach students about orchards, food-growing, and sustainable food systems (there is some mathematics in there too!). Learning about orchards will help children to appreciate the beauty of nature around them, and to foster a lifelong respect for the plants and animals we share the planet with.
Saturday 21 October is National Apple Day and some related activities may be going on across the country. However, why don’t you take a walk through our orchard just to enjoy it. Autumn is a great season to be in an orchard, as the leaves start to turn, the fruit ripens, and nature feels like it’s starting to wind down. It’s time for us to pause, reflect, and literally savour the fruit, even if its not from your labour.
Should you be interested in cultivating apple trees then you can always join the volunteers. Email us at friendsofscp@outlook.com or just turn up in the main car park off Frome Road at 9.30am on Wednesday mornings. You will be welcomed with open arms.
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 