Articles
Country Park is blooming thanks to new community orchard
Date Posted: 10:30 AM on Tue, 16 March 2021
Councillors have announced the creation of a new Community Orchard at Gedling Country Park. The council has installed a number of fruit and blossom trees as part of ongoing works to improve the destination country park.
Over 20 native trees have been planted, including apple trees, heritage pear trees, damson trees and cherry trees. All of the trees originate from the Nottingham area.
The new orchard will also play a vital part in supporting local wildlife due to the produce created from the trees. The tree planting is also part of the council’s pledge to plant 500 new trees, which has already been exceeded, as they have now planted 1,050 trees and more are planned over the next year.
The orchard is situated near the Spring Lane entrance to the park, near the Butterfly Walk and Bee gardens.
Gedling Borough Council recently announced plans to expand Gedling Country Park and create a new ‘Green Lung’ with nearby Mapperley Plains and Digby Park. The park has recently had a number of other improvements including two new viewing platforms on the north and south side of the park and a new seating area near the café. The park has had an unprecedented number of visitors during lockdown and has provided many residents with a place to exercise and enjoy some outdoors while following the guidelines.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said
“What a symbol of progress this is by planting these fruit and cherry trees. This former colliery was dug up and used for coal and now we’re planting trees that will bear fruit, it’s a fantastic turnaround for the place and we’re delighted to be creating this orchard for people to enjoy.
We made a pledge to do more to plant more trees and this orchard will be another spot in the park where people can come and sit down and enjoy a picnic with friends and take in the stunning views of the park. We’ve planted over 1,000 trees in the borough and last week we announced the new Green Lung to make this park even bigger and so that more people can enjoy this great asset on their doorstep.”