BWCE Fund focus: Corston Community Orchard
The BWCE Fund helps Corston Community Orchard by funding a solar generator to power their social events which help reduce carbon emissions.
During the pandemic, a group of like-minded people got together to create a beautiful outside space. From that, the Corston Community Orchard was born, with trees being planted on 14 January 2022.
The group has received two grants from the BWCE Fund: one in 2022 when it funded a rainwater harvesting, storage and distribution system for irrigating the trees; and last year for a solar generator to supply power for social events to promote sustainable and low-carbon electricity.
When the group inherited the orchard, it was an overgrazed horse paddock and the field was a mud bath. Now the Orchard is a thriving community group, and every year they host local young people who are volunteering for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Over the years they have helped replant the hedges, build a pond, and are currently clearing out an area for a walled garden.
Recently they held a winter social to prune the trees, led by the Forest of Avon Trust - where all the volunteers had a go. After this, they held an informal Wassail where 40 people attended to bless the trees to ensure a good harvest this year.
“I am thrilled that so many people came along to join in and that we had some wonderful sun for our event. We are lucky to have such committed volunteers who come along to prune the orchard. We are trialling a Wassail this year and somebody has brought along a Wassail cake, and it looks like everyone enjoyed the Wassail mulled cider brewed in the urn - powered by our solar generator. We would like to say a big thank you to the BWCE Fund for enabling us to use low carbon solar electricity to power our social events. We are also grateful for the large water butts that saved our trees from perishing last summer during the very hot period.
Despite the heat, last year’s harvest was modest from the 4 years old trees. The crab apples did well and were included in the Apple Day Meal at Corston Village Hall and some cider brewing in October. The dry weather affected the apple crop, so they did not do so well, only yielding approximately 40 apples. However, the small pears trees had their best crop yet with perhaps 100 pears. The plums also did well but unfortunately the cherries got taken by the birds! We encourage people to eat the fruit directly from the trees so most of it disappeared quite quickly.”
You can see all upcoming events and information over at the Corston Community Orchard website.