Apple Day

From the England in Particular website: 

Donkey Field Community Orchard, Church Hill, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury. A mixed orchard planted in 2006 by local volunteers on disused land owned by Shaftesbury Town Council. The two acres of land was once used for allotment but proved too steep and too wet in some areas due to a spring line, and was latterly used for rough grazing. It is bounded by allotments, a playing field, churchyard and a road. A right of way passes through the orchard and is used by local people, walkers and dog walkers. A Friends of the Donkey Field Community Orchard group was soon established and from that a management committee to oversee legal and financial issues and arrange work days and events. Mainly standard trees were planted with apples, pears, plums,  quince and medlar. Fruits and varieties were chosen by the Friends who planted them. Some Dorset and West country varieties have been planted including Tom Putt and there are plans to research local varieties further and add more trees in time.  Some trees were stolen in their first spring but public donations have allowed the Friends group to replace them. A grant from the Liveability Fund was awarded to create disabled access, seating, a noticeboard and entrance marker. The seating and noticebard were made from local sustainably managed timber by the Dorset Centre For Rural Skills, and the entrance marker will be completed in 2008 by a lettercutter from Enmore Green using local wood. A further grant allowed the group to commission a ten-year Environmental Management Plan. A large area remains too wet to plant fruit trees and will be gently managed to improve biodiversity. There are work days every one to two months and Apple Day and Wassailing are celebrated each year. Contact: Kate O’Farrell, (Secretary of the Friends group) 07776 447292, kateofarrell[at]letterboxes.org or see www.dirtynails.co.uk