In early 2009, a group of Porlock people came up with the idea of a Community Orchard ... and it is now up and running, just about.
Combe Orchard is situated between the Porlock Toll Road and the footpath to West Porlock and Porlock Weir, about 200 yards past the village hall. Click on the map link to view a location map.
The first step towards the Community Orchard was the offer, by a generous local farmer, to lend the community some land on which there already was an old, rather unloved, orchard. More than a dozen volunteers then worked at the orchard at various times to clear the undergrowth or, indeed, overgrowth as the brambles were higher than some trees! Brian, the farmer, also organised for a deer fence to be erected, without which the orchard's trees would be continually damaged by our lovely red deer. One of the volunteers created and erected a new gate to replace the old wonky gate and baler twine entrance. Other volunteers are regularly in attendance to keep the orchard managed, ensuring a balance between nature and the requirements of the trees.
We now know that we have 22 apple trees in the orchard and quiet a lot of space in which to plant new trees. We don't yet know the types of trees that we have – a tasting by the volunteers proved inconclusive! We do think that we have a mix of eating apples, cooking apples and cider apples.
Having got this far, we plan to add an orchard walk and seating to encourage casual use of the orchard by locals and visitors alike. It is a fine place to relax or enjoy a picnic – the views are quite stunning.
The orchard group also organise “apple days” The first of these, wassailing, takes place on Twelfth Night, January 6th. The village sings and drinks to the health of trees, ensuring that the trees will thrive. The purpose of wassailing is to awake the apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit later in the year.
The second day is a picking evening in the Community Orchard, when the community are encouraged to join together to pick apples for storage and turning into juice or cider.
The third day is the juicing day, when the community come together to juice apples – from the Community Orchard, their own orchard or an “open orchard” The juice can then be frozen, pasteurised or turned into cider or just drunk, freshly pressed. More community days are planned.
The Community Orchard is working closely with other local organisations, including Orchard's Live, the National Trust and Exmoor National Park. The orchard receives financial support from the Exmoor National Park Sustainable Development Fund, provided by DEFRA.
Contact
Alistair Campbell
Tel: (01643) 863154
email: milloaks@btinternet.com
