Community celebrates new orchard

The sun shone for the first Apple Day to be held at Frome’s new community orchard on Sunday, where over 200 people joined in the celebrations. 

The new orchard was officially opened by the planting of a giant sequoia by Lou Miles and her family Christian, Grace and Leela, along with the Mayor, cllr Richard Ackroyd and cllr Nick White. Lou, from the Peculiar Botanist, had volunteered her expertise in design to plan the orchard.

Frome Town Council had asked residents to choose how to spend £10,000 as part of The People’s Budget and the idea for a town orchard was chosen. The orchard now boasts both eating and cooking apples, as well as plums, pears and cherries and bountiful olive trees.  

Keen horticulturalist and Frome resident Sandra Gilson said, “I applaud the council for putting in such a broad variety of trees.  It is well laid out and I think the signposts add to the ambience of the area.”

An oak tree features at the centre of the scheme to symbolise Selwood Forest, which would have stood where the Showfield is now. The orchard is a work-in-progress and will eventually feature more soft fruits and herbs, as well as larger trees.  Benches will also be added when the planting is finished.

Kate Preston, a nearby resident said, “This space reinforces the community spirit along with the outdoor gym and the playground – it makes the Old Showfield a much nicer space to spend time in.”

On Apple Day itself, people planted chestnuts, went on foraging walks, pressed lots of apples and bought produce from the Country Market, as well as having apple fun with crafts and an apple peel competition.  The longest apple peel competition was won by Suzie Sims at 134cm, with Libby and Del hot on her heels at 128cm.  

The Mayor of Frome said, “What a fantastic day in the sunshine to celebrate the new People’s Orchard.  Let’s hope we are celebrating our second apple day with our own apples this time next year.”