Rokeby Recreation Ground Community Orchard

We invited local residents to be part of this community project by donating and planting a tree. Everyone interested was asked to choose either an apple, pear, plum, cherry or quince tree.

The most suitable trees were selected, from a local nursery, based on appearance, rootstock and pollination characteristics, with an overall balance of varieties.

The 31 heritage trees were planted in the first year of the orchard as a community activity on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th November 2021, and the slideshows below show the chosen site, its preparation the weekend before the initial planting, the activities over the first planting weekend, and the planted orchard. Scroll down to see pictures of our regular work to maintain the orchard as well as the community coming together to plant more trees in later years -

Although the trees were donated and planted by individuals or families, they now belong to the community so that maintenance, such as weeding and pruning, and harvesting of the fruit each Autumn, will be a collective effort. Hopefully, the trees should begin to bear fruit in 2 or 3 years.

January 2026 Update

2026 January 11th 

A hardy group braved the cold to plant 3 new apple trees and also to replace a cherry tree that did not survive the long hot summer

A selection of photos that show action to plant the trees and the groups after successful planting