Photos © Andrew Bungard
Chorleywood Community Orchard is based in Chorleywood House Estate. Launched in late 2008, volunteers planted the first 24 apple trees in February 2009. The Orchard is home to 140 fruit trees, a mix of apples, plums and cherries, all carefully chosen either because they are old Hertfordshire varieties or are known to thrive locally.
The Orchard is a community activity,open to all and new volunteers are always welcome. Volunteers meet on the first Saturday of each month at 10am to tend the Orchard but they also have a Cider Club
We talk to Alison Rubens, Founder of CW Community Orchard
Living in a house called The Orchard, it seems only right that Alison Rubens is an apple addict, and even more apt that she should be the one to inspire the creation of Chorleywood Community Orchard.
It was her enthusiasm and an idle chat with a fellow dog walker that sparked it all off.
“ We have twenty apple trees in our garden” says Alison, “and I spend every day cooking or picking apples each autumn. I love fruit growing and I have old maps going back to 1880 showing orchards all over Chorleywood. I realised that as a nature reserve, Chorleywood House Estate could include an orchard and when dog walking there I spotted the perfect location nicely tucked away, yet accessible. I suggested the idea to Friends of Chorleywood House Estate and they asked me to make it happen!”
Alison gathered a group of hard working helpers and the first trees were planted in 2009.
“The fantastic thing is that the Orchard is owned by everybody, every tree is sponsored by an individual or organisation but the apples belong to the community and everybody can pick the fruit. ”
The scheme has been phenomenally successful.
“ We found sponsors for all the trees within nine months even though we had only just begun planting them. We now have 140 trees growing. Amongst these are six cider apple varieties – we now have our own Cider Club too whose members make cider from local apples!”
There are about 90 different types of fruit trees altogether – apple, plum damson and a few cherry. Some are eating, and others cooking varieties and almost half originated in Hertfordshire, including Bushey Grove and Lane’s Prince Albert which was grown in Berkhamsted.
“Chorleywood has always been an important fruit growing area, especially for cherries, that’s why there are so many fruit associated roads – Orchard Drive, Orchard Way, Cherry Tree Lane, Apple Tree Dell, Turney’s Orchard and lots more.“
There are no plaques on the trees but instead a book will record sponsorships. Many local residents have dedicated trees to loved ones.
Jacky Khara sponsored a tree to commemorate the birth of her granddaughter Ella while Sue Mander from Artichoke Dell bought one as a tribute to her parents.
“ My parents lived in Lancashire and now I have somewhere near where I can go to remember them.”
Each of the three Chorleywood primary schools has a tree and the long term plan is that children can be actively involved. The Chorleywood Scouts and Cubs have already become helpers.
Help the Orchard
Become a benefactor for a one off payment of £35 or a patron at a cost of £60 a year for 5 years
Volunteer to help at the orchard tending the trees, pruning, weeding, tree tying and path raking. ( meet every first Sat of the month).
Volunteer Work Parties
Join the Orchard Team on a regular basis for a great outdoors workout. They meet on the first Saturday of the month for tending the trees, pruning and weeding – followed by delicious apple cake.
Herts Orchard Initiative
Offer advice about growing local varieties of apples and help set up a juicing facility at Shenley Park. If you are a private fruit grower with too many apples you can take them along to produce pasteurized bottled juice which keeps for a year or more.
chorleywood.orchard@gmail.com
Chorleywood Community Orchard celebrates one of the nation’s favourite fruits and the apple harvest every October with an orchard tour, a BBQ, cake stall, apple juice tasting and a range of children’s activities from apple bobbing and treasure hunt to the longest peel competition.
“Children love chopping up the fruit and turning it into apple juice”says Alison, “ we have our own traditional press and crusher for use on Apple Day when all the family can get involved.”
History
Old maps show that Chorleywood was once home to many apple and cherry orchards, including one on the site of the new orchard. From the start of the twentieth century, however, these beautiful traditional landscapes declined as many were neglected and eventually lost to the wild.
Bushey Grove, Lane’s Prince Albert, Brownlees’ Russet and Hormead Pearmain are a few of the many Hertfordshire apple varieties planted in the Orchard. Other local varieties include Feltham Beauty, Langley Pippin, Gascoyne’s Scarlet and the fondly remembered Blenheim Orange. You may never have heard of some, and certainly won’t encounter them in the supermarkets, but they are delicious eaters or scrumptious cookers all with their own distinctive character.
Chorleywood Community Orchard, A404 Chorleywood, turn into Lady Ela Drive, opposite the cricket ground. (If driving park on the right).
Walk until you come to the kissing gate, turn right into the field. The orchard is straight ahead beyond the end of the cemetery hedge
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