A NEW COMMUNITY ORCHARD IN EVINGTON PARK

The idea for the orchard came from two independent sources –Evington Park Services and Transition Leicester. This is a community project; the more local people involved in setting it up and running it, the better.

A triangular piece of land near Ethel Road and the Harwin Road entrance to Evington Park has been assigned for the orchard. It is proposed to plant forty standard fruit trees and a row of nut trees.

Senior Park Officer, Jane Ushwell said, “This project will create an area of the park where top quality fruit can be grown by and for the local Community. Planting a new orchard will help in a small way to counteract the massive loss of orchards – 63% have gone from England since 1950. It will help revive local interest in fruit growing and provide a way of sharing knowledge. We are delighted to have teamed up with Transition Leicester and local volunteers. If you would like to be involved in developing this project, please come to a meeting on Monday 22nd February at 6.30pm in Evington Park.”

Zina Zelter from Transition Leicester said, “I'm delighted that this orchard is happening. Better still, we already have quite a few local organisations and people involved as well as LCC Park and Green Space Services and the Council's 10,000 trees project, which will provide the trees. Transition Leicester would like to see as many local community food and orchard projects set up as possible because we are planning for a future where Leicester will need to meet its needs (food, energy, entertainment and transport) with very little fossil fuel. A community orchard brings people together and gives us the chance to learn new skills and share food. This is a real step towards this vision of a sustainable future.”

The meeting on 22nd February at 6.30pm is in Evington Park House when the group will discuss all aspects of the project. Do come along, it will be fun. For more information, contact Jane Ushwell on 2734022 or Zina Zelter on 289 9074.