Celebrating five years after the first trees were planted at the Barton Community Orchard

It doesn’t feel that long ago that the CRT’s community orchard at Lark Rise Farm was just an idea as we envisioned a place for people to share harvest and learn about nature. 

But now, five-years-on, the trees, many of which are sponsored by members of the public, are starting to bear fruit - thanks hugely to the efforts of Lark Rise Farm warden Bill Parkinson and Andrew Edwards, one of the CRT’s founding trustees. 

Andrew, a keen horticulturist, drew the orchard plans by hand and together with Bill, he has watered, scythed and nurtured the area in all weathers. 

While a few trees, which are all native heritage varieties, had fruit in 2023, this year has seen the first mass appearance of apples, pears, plums, and some cherries. There are approximately 290 trees in the orchard, planted in long rows with five metres between each one. 

“I enjoy every minute of my time down here, even if it’s not always easy,” says Bill, who has been watering the trees by hand to ensure they make it through the drier months. “A few trees have struggled and died after the incredibly wet winter last year, although oddly, I also wonder whether this is a factor in the fruiting success of the others.”  

A pear growing at Barton Community Orchard

Scything at Barton Community Orchard

In November, 2019, actress Dame Judi Dench, trustee David Mills and founder Robin Page all planted trees to mark the start of the orchard, with help from local school children as part of National Tree Week. The first tree to fruit, which sits right at the centre of the orchard, just happens to bear Judi’s name, growing New Rock Pippin, a dessert apple with a light russet and green colouration

Most of the orchard was planted during January and February 2020 with help from Duke of Edinburgh volunteers from Leys School in Cambridge. The orchard plan began in 2018 and was boosted by a donation from Kimbolton Castle Rotary Club. An area at Warner’s Corner was chosen and prepared. When a £15,000 award was received from the Postcode Community Trust (funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery), the orchard idea was revolutionised from a few trees to nearly 300, with a fence around the plot to help protect saplings. 

Dame Judi Dench at the Barton Community Orchard with CRT trustee David Mills

“It’s the first year with any significant fruit,” explains Bill, “but if each year improves, we’ll be encouraging those who have sponsored a tree to come down and take some of the harvest. The rest can be used by the local community, and, of course, feed the birds and insects too.”  

You can’t hurry nature but we’re hoping for an increase in fruit each year and, so far, everything is right on schedule thanks to the efforts of Bill and Andrew. 

And if you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a nature lover, why not sponsor one of the orchard trees? £100 covers the planting, plaque, administration and 10 years of maintenance.  

If you would like to sponsor a tree, please get in touch with our team at info@thecrt.co.uk.  

Our farmers can’t do it without you. If you want to help us protect local wildlife and help farmers continue to farm in a nature-friendly way, you can support the CRT in any number of ways, from joining as a CRT Friend to volunteering on one of our farms and attending our events. You can also sign-up to our monthly newsletter 'CRT News' for regular updates from our farms, straight to your inbox.

Published: October 2024