Community Orchards
In 2021, the Council worked with parish councils, local community groups and Platform Housing to plant 10 new Community Orchards across the District. Following on from the 'Bearing Fruit' initiative a second round of funding was awarded in 2022, allowing 11 additional community orchards to be planted and two further orchard sites to be extended, thereby 'Growing the Network'.
The Bearing Fruit Project
The Bearing Fruit project was made possible through grant funding awarded by Natural England's Nature Recovery Network Seed Funding East Midlands.
The orchards planted in 2021 are located at: Westgate Fields, Louth; Belchford; Mawson Gardens, Wainfleet All Saints; Grainthorpe; North Somercotes; Tower View, Horsington; Wainfleet St Mary; South Willingham; The Gatherums, Louth and Cromwell Place, Tattershall.
Orchards range in size from between 5 and 20 trees and are comprised of apples, pears, plums and gages - many of which are Lincolnshire heritage varieties. Where possible, tree stakes, guards and ties have also been sourced from Lincolnshire suppliers. Local volunteers have been encouraged to get involved with management of the orchards and training workshops have been organised to provide guidance on pruning and management of orchard trees.
Traditional orchards are known to support a wide variety of wildlife, particularly in regard to pollinators and they are considered a Priority habitat, which means they are considered to be under threat and in need of conservation. Many orchards have been lost through being either dug up or neglected and this project is helping to create new habitat for the future. They are traditionally planted in a grid-style layout to enable maximum light and air flow through the orchard.
Growing The Network
In 2022 Natural England awarded the Council with further funding to enable a second phase of the community orchards initiative, allowing us to the expand the network of orchards in East Lindsey and establish some additional community orchards in Boston and South Holland.
The new orchards planted in 2022 are located at: Fulletby; Wainfleet; Post Office Lane, Spilsby; Marisco Medical Centre, Mablethorpe; Harveys Way, Louth; Conlie Close, Alford; South Ormsby; Garfitts Lane, Boston; Willoughby Road, Boston; Casswell Drive, Quadring & Vernatts Green, Spalding.
The community orchards at Belchford and Wainfleet St. Mary have also been extended as a result of this additional funding.
Not only will this initiative provide improved carbon sequestration and increased biodiversity but will also provide additional social, health and wellbeing benefits to support residents through connecting and interacting with nature and each other. A focus on creating new orchards in urban settings helps to provide enhanced green space which will support better health and wellbeing outcomes during our green recovery from Covid-19.
If you are interested in volunteering or have a potential site to put forward to orchard or other tree planting, please contact Heather Prescott.