BUDE-STRATTON Town Council has approved plans for a community orchard to be created in a space between Neetside’s surgery and community centre in the town at its latest full council meeting on October 5, writes David Sillifant.

The community orchard is the brainchild of the Bude Friends of the Earth (BFE) group.

At the September meeting, the council asked BFE to draw up detailed plans, and these were taken to the meeting by town councillor and treasurer of the group, Simon Browning.

The orchard, which will cost £1,000, will largely comprise of 26 one-year-old MM106 apple trees, six hazelnut trees and ten fruit bushes.

Two or three of the hazelnut trees will be used as a wind break on the northern corner of the site, and a row of fruit bushes will be planted along the northern edge so that the trees do not impose on the view from the windows looking out onto the orchard.

Within the centre of the orchard, the apple trees, which should give a height and spread of three to four metres, will be arranged in curved rows surrounding a central clearing, which will be used as a focal point for outdoor events.

Between the trees, the turf will be removed and a wildflower mix will be planted. The wildflowers will provide additional colour and attract pollinators.

In between the rows of trees will be left grassed, and these corridors will be mown regularly.

All of the councillors backed the plans, with Cllr Lesley Moores saying: “It looks lovely,” while Cllr Heather Partridge added: “I think the plans look excellent, we should give it a go.”

Deputy mayor, Lea Deely, said: “It’s an excellent use of the space. I use the area a fair bit and I think it’d be a great use of the area.”

Cllr Frank Partridge was also keen to see the community orchard come to fruition, but wanted to be assured that it would work.

He said: “I’d be happy as long as the trees grow and work. I want it to be successful. Can I be assured of the validity of the trees?”

Tree expert and co-ordinator of Bude Friends of the Earth, Rob Meredith, told councillors how the process would work.

Trees had been planted there a couple of years ago against the hedge, but hadn’t gone as well as hoped with infertile soil and a sandy base among the issues.

However, plans have been put in place to ensure that plenty of compost will be incorporated when planting to provide a good start and subsequent feeding and mulching of trees including Comfrey for its properties as a soil conditioner.

Cllr Frank Partridge put forward a proposal to accept the plans and revisit the matter in three years time.

All councillors present were unanimous in their backing with Cllr Browning abstaining from the vote.

Cllr Browning later told the Post he is pushing on with plans to get the funding sorted.

He said: “Cornwall Council have a crowdfunder platform on their website, which we’re going to use. Cornwall Council also have a Grow Nature Seed Fund where they’ll help projects with funding and we’ve already been told that we’re eligible for it.

“They’ll support with 50% of the cost of the orchard up to £500, whichever is less, and hopefully we can raise the other £500 through the crowdfunder, which will be perfect for us.

“A small grant of up to £150 may also be available from Friends of the Earth Local Groups Support Fund.

“I’m looking to launch the crowdfunder now and get it live within the next week or so and that’ll run for four or five weeks until the end of November.”

Cllr Browning is hopeful of completing the orchard in the next few months and that people will come forward.

He said: “Through December and January we can hopefully get started by planting the trees. We’re hoping to run several sessions and plant five or six trees at a time. That way it gets people involved. We don’t want it to be just members of Bude Friends of the Earth doing it all. We want people to get involved and take ownership of the site. By the spring we hope to have it up and running properly, and once it’s done it’ll hopefully be there for many years to come.

“The plan is that the volunteers of the friends of the earth will do most of the maintenance. Things like fertiliser will cost but it’ll be organic and we want to source it locally. There aren’t much maintenance costs. We also request that the town council continue regular mowing of the grass strips between the trees.”

Cllr Browning also believes that the orchard has a number of benefits to the town.

He said: “Firstly, it increases the chances of biodiversity. All of the work we’ve put into the trail will help with pollinators and insects etc.

“It’s also a focal point for the community. We can have apple days, juicing sessions etc and when we have big events in the town such as Heritage Day or Lifeboat Day, it’s a place where people can congregate.

“It’ll also be good for schools and the local community. We can reconnect with people as to where local produce comes from, not just in supermarkets. There’ll be lots of different types of apples grown, and it’ll give people the chance to think about food production.”

BFE co-ordinator Mr Meredith will be in charge of the process. He explained how they are going to make sure that the trees end up as being as healthy as possible.

He said: “We’re going to be managing the orchard organically. We’ll be liquid feeding the trees and using Comfrey juice, liquid seaweed and organice mulches which will rot down and provide the strong roots.

“We’ll also be intending to remove the turf for about a metre around the tree, dig out an established planting hole and incorporate the material with rotted compost or manure and we’re hoping that someone will come forward and give us this.

“The actual planting of the trees is easy, we’re hoping that members of the community come forward and they could perhaps even sponsor a tree.

“If anyone has any expertise, which could be useful or have suggestions as to what they want to see, then please get in touch.”

Cllr Browning has been delighted with the public reaction to the plans, and is hopeful that people get involved.

“The reaction has been really positive, especially through Facebook. Bude Friends of the Earth were only formed in 2009 and up until last year didn’t even have a Facebook page. We’ve doubled in followers and we’ve had so many offers of help as well as really nice comments.

“Bude Blend, who are a youth group in the town and do beach cleans, help in old peoples homes and other great projects, have said they’re keen to get involved. We didn’t know what people would say, but it seems to have captured people’s imagination.”

To find out more about the project, contact Rob Meredith on 01409 254450 or search ‘Bude Friends of the Earth’ on Facebook.