Orchards, Trees & Orchard Produce

Northumberland information

We are still researching the orchards, produce, nurseries and recipes of Northumberland. Can you help? Please let us know if you are aware of local orchards, varieties, or dishes, good products and the places that sell them : email info [at] commonground.org.uk

Where to Get Help

The Northern Fruit Group is made up of retired horticulturalists with a wealth of knowledge and experience. They are carrying out surveys in parts of the northern counties such as Whitby, and keep up to date with developments in fruit breeding and growing. The fruit group has three learning facilities to continue their hands on work and research: Harewood House demonstration fruit garden and apple and pear tree collection, Huddersfield Allotment to used to demonstrate of traditional allotment fruit growing, and Hexthorpe Allotments in Doncaster which is being developed into a nursery for Yorkshrie varieties, and demonstration garden for domestic fruit growing. Simon Clark of the NFG has created the Apple Key as an aid to identification of varieties. This can be downloaded from a page of the National Orchard Forum web-site. The Group offers a leaflet "suggested Fruit Cultivars for the North". Contact the Northern Fruit Group Secretary, Simon Clark on simonclark49[at]tiscali.co.uk

Community Orchards

Clara Vale Community Orchard, northern boundary of the village, between Tyne View and the railway track. In 1998 a group of people in Clara Vale, a small ex-colliery village, were interested in creating a Community Orchard to mark the Millennium. The mine closed in the 1960s after 70 years of production, and was reclaimed by nature, now a local nature reserve managed by Clara Vale Conservation Group. Once a piece of rough ground next to the village, had been identified as the ideal spot of a third of a hectare, a project group from the conservation group was established to take things forward. After working out how to go about creating the orchard the group held their first public meeting in 1999 and suggested the idea of a Community Orchard. By the end of the night they had the support of everyone who attended. They then put a circular through every door with a tear off slip for anyone who might like to adopt a tree, and received sixty responses. They calculated that £5,700 was needed so applied and won funding from a local landfill scheme and a Millennium Commission scheme run by Help the Aged, there being several senior citizens in the group. The land is leased form Gateshead Council on a 25 year lease for a peppercorn rent, and managed by Clara Vale Conservation Group. Two large Tamworth pigs from the community farm helped to rotivate the land followed by a mini bulldozer. The trees were planted by villagers in 2000 with a mixture of eating and cooking apples from Rogers of Pickering, planted on either side of a footpath. They are dwarf trees placed at 3m intervals. Each one rented for £3 a year by a villager as a way of raising funds, with over half the households in the village having adopted a tree, and some asking for several. Each ‘tree tenant’ harvests their own apples. With left over funds cordons and espaliers were added to line the footpath, and some decorative crab apples planted. Varieties were chosen for their suitability for the location.There are trees and scrub on surrounding land and the River Tyne on the other side of the railway track. At Apple Day that year a display was set up in the village hall of photos of the orchard before, during and after, complete with examples of the apples, which the tenants could expect from their trees in years to come. Rents were collected and refreshments including home-made apple cakes and apple juice were provided. As well as an annual Apple Day there are pruning days in March and work days as needed. The organisers feel that one of the most positive outcomes was “ that the idea had cut across all the various interest and age groups in the village. Virtual strangers suddenly became friends. The power of the humble apple!”. There is full public access at all times. Contact: Don Atkinson, donatkinson[at]gateshead.gov.uk

Scotswood Natural Community Garden, The John Marley Centre, Whickham View, Scotswood, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE15 6TT. In 1996/7 a local charity, Scotswood Natural Community Garden, turned a 1 ha area of school field into a community garden, which includes three small orchards, or “forest gardens”. Trees of mixed sizes from dwarf to standard include apple varieties:Spartan, Egremont Russet, Red Ellison, Fiesta; pears: Conference, Doyenne du Comice, Williams bon Chretien; plums: Shropshire, Victoria and Court d’Alton; plus Morello, damsons and cobnuts: Kentish Cob and Webb’s Prize Cob. Grass is cut but some areas are left overgrown for wild life and fallen fruit in these areas is left for birds. Birds, insects, butterflies, damsel and dragon flies, hedgehogs, mice and amphibians including frogs, toads and three types of newt are found in the gardens. There is one large and three small ponds, mixed hedges and birdboxes. Fruit is collected by school groups, volunteers and staff and is also used for making preserves. Some fruit is given to the local college for use in their canteen. Some is stored but space is a problem. There are plans to supply a box scheme to be run by the local horticultural college. The orchards are backed by housing and new development on two sides and the rest of the garden on other sides. There has been some vandalism as well as a bit of neglect due to staff changes but since 2006 bumper harvest and renewed interest has seen the trees in much better shape. The land is leased from Newcastle Council and run by a board of trustees who have formed a management committee. The garden is open to visitors during the week and on Saturday mornings for a nature club. Large groups can book in for visits/guided tours. Wassailing was held in 2007 and Apple Day for a number of years. Pruning workshops and other training days are held in the orchards including practice for students of the local horticultural college. Contact: Kate Dickenson, Scotswood Natural Community Garden, The John Marley Centre, Whickham View, Scotswood, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE15 6TT, +44(0)191 200 4706, kate[at]sncg.org.uk or see www. sncg.org.uk

Walbottle Community Orchard, Walbottle Road, Walbottle, Newcastle upon Tyne. A two hectare orchard planted in 1998 within Walbottle brickworks Nature reserve, a former industrial area now comprised of scrub, grassland, former quarry and footpaths. The trees were planted by Newcastle City Council Rangers with help from local school children and volunteers. They are standards, widely spaced, of apples, pears, plum, cherries and hazel nuts including the Northumberland apple Mrs Lakeman’s Seedling. There are broad-leaved native trees around the edge and willow and alder in a wet area. The grass is cut and litter collected regularly. There are bird and bat boxes and a log pile for wild life. Wild life recorded includes rabbit, fox, woodland birds including green woodpecker, tawny owl, jay and blue tit. There is full access at all times. The orchard is well used by walkers, dog walkers and for relaxing and playing, with the fruit as an added bonus. Visitors are encouraged to pick fruit and Walbottle Village School visit each September to pick fruit for pies. Apple Day is often celebrated although reduced ranger numbers have made this more difficult. There are also open days, fun days, and school visits. Contact: Gillian Brown, Tyne Riverside Country Park, Grange Road, Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 8ND, +44(0)191 267 1116, newburn.countrypark[at]newcastle.gov.uk