To register your general support, or to make an offer to get involved and start loving trees please email carl@duffieldorchard.co.uk and like us on Facebook opposite to spread the good word.
This page details initial indicative plans to create a Community Orchard for use by the residents of Duffield. It is located by the Ecclesbourne Meadows Estate on the banks of the Ecclesbourne adjacent to the location of what was Hawley’s Colour Works, read about the general benefits of establishing a Community Orchard at the proposed location here.
With our future generations and sustainability in mind, the orchard aims to encourage children and the wider community to forage for natural foods, fruit & nuts from a wide variety of trees/plants for free, with a view to facilitating a change in mindsets, creating opportunities to address obesity & healthy eating, and provide a better resource to connect our children and the wider community with our wider natural environment. It will transform the space to one that changes with the seasons, a haven for wildlife, and will also become an invaluable interactive educational resource for our 3 local schools, and will turn what is becoming an overgrown area into a better managed, much more attractive, more productive space for the full Duffield community to enjoy.
BUT, we need YOUR support to make this happen for the benefit of the whole community, are YOU interested in getting involved so that together we can transform this area to create and maintain a lasting legacy for the village..
We already have the backing of Amber Valley Borough Council who own the land and we are currently also being supported by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
WE NEED YOUR HELP – SO PLEASE EMAIL US
To make this project happen, we will need support from fellow Duffield residents in the following ways :
- Number 1 priority is to recruit 4 key volunteers to develop the rest of the project, available to work with a selection of pupils after school at 4pm to 5:30pm ( I work out of the area so it’s difficult for me to engage with schools during daytime).
- We need project supporters to spread the word to friends/neighbours and get our community on board.
- We’ll need help next winter to prepare the ground and plant trees.
- Offers of funding/tree sponsorship are always welcome.
- We’ll need help when it comes to pruning/general maintenance. If you can spare the odd morning/afternoon, get in touch.
- We need to form a charitable vehicle to deliver the project, provide governance, and organise volunteers and any community activity from apple bobbing to wassailing.
- We’ll need volunteers who are willing to help with educational opportunities and become our knowledge experts.
Without community support this project will not happen. To register your interest, no matter how large or small, contact carl@duffieldorchard.co.uk or on 07890 537206.
By getting involved and supporting the project, my promise is:
We’ll have some fun, you’ll learn some stuff, and together we will create a valuable legacy and community asset
Another way of showing your support for the idea if you can’t physically help us is by signing our petition below
Duffield Community Orchard 