Twenty-five new fruit trees were planted in the Community Orchard at Barley Fields in Holybourne.

Alton Town Council were joined on Wednesday, March 6, by eager little green thumbs from Holybourne Village Pre-school and the Lime Tree Nursery.

The children got stuck in digging away and planting the trees while rescuing some wriggly worms and learning about where their fruit comes from. 

Alton Town Council said the day was a “real team effort” with students from Eggars Secondary School, (located opposite Barley Fields) coming out to lend a hand.

Attending were local families, Dr June Chatfield OBE, Cllr Graham Hill, Cllr Suzie Burns and Alton Town Mayor, Cllr Annette Eyre.

The day was made possible thanks to the Hampshire Forest Partnership who donated the additional 25 fruit trees (a variety of apple, pear, plum, cherry, quince and gage) as a living legacy from the King’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund.

The new trees join the ones that were planted in November 2021, by Alton Town Council and volunteers from Alton Local Food Initiative (ALFI) and Barley Fields residents. 

Community orchards and gardens are an excellent opportunity for schools and the community to  learn new skills such as wildlife identification, horticultural skills, and maintenance of the trees. 

They create green networks across towns and help wildlife too, increasing biodiversity and  boosting pollinator populations. 

If you want to get involved in community planting projects or donate a fruit tree to one of  Alton’s Community Orchards.

Contact Emily-Jane Messenger, Community Projects and  Enhancements Officer on [email protected] or call 01420 83986. 

Interested in planting your own community orchard or adding to an existing community orchard?

The Hampshire Forest Partnership team are on hand to provide advice and  support.

Eligible applicants are schools, resident’s associations,  community groups, charities, businesses, parish/town/district councils.

For more information, visit www.hants.gov.uk/hampshireforestpartnership