Town Council supports community orchard development

A grant from Alnwick Town Council will enable a community orchard to create a social area which will accomodate an accessible table. The work involved includes levelling the area, the laying of a permeable surface material and the provision of sleepers to edge the area.

The £600 grant is going to the Friends of Moorlands Community Orchard which is a not-for-profit group who aim to develop connections within the local community by helping neighbours to get to know each other better through activities and events, as well as educating about organic planting, wildlife and increasing biodiversity on the land which is near the Chapel Lands estate.

In the three years since community orchard group was formed they have planted 60 fruit trees, hung bird boxes and brought the community together with a number of activities.

Moorlands Community Orchard group members Karen Swinbank, Christine Hobson, Angela Ramsay, Alison James and Mike James are seen here with the Alnwick Town Mayor, Councillor Geff Watson at the orchard which has stunning views over the west of Alnwick to the hills beyond.