Locals plant new community orchard in Exeter

Published: 25 February 2022

A new community orchard has been planted in Exeter.

Planting of the orchard took place today (Friday 25 February) at Library Fields in Pinhoe, Exeter. Local residents grabbed gardening gloves and spades to get the trees in the ground.

The initiative has been supported by the City Council, Saving Devon’s Treescape and Wild Pinhoe.

The orchard will provide fruit for the local community and a place for people to come together and be involved in activities such as pruning and apple days.

The orchard will become part of the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’, celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

As well as the tree planting, locals were able to get involved in craft activities, a scavenger trail, a litter pick and books giveaway. People were also able to take away free trees to plant at home.

Cllr David Harvey, Lead Councillor for City Management, said: “It was great to see so many people coming together to create this fantastic community orchard. Orchards make a valuable contribution to wildlife and biodiversity, because of the wide range of flora and fauna that they support.

“The new community orchard will help bring the community together in an attractive open space that can be shared and enjoyed for years and generations to come.”  

Trees for the project are being donated by Saving Devon’s Treescapes. To find out more about the Devon Wildlife initiative visit the Devon Wildlife Trust website