The Community Orchard
Early in the gateway project the inclusion of public art and particularly community engagement through planting was identified as a key aim.
The theme of the Gateways has been to restore Egremont's historical connection with apples, still celebrated each year through the Crab Fair. The planting focuses on varieties of crab apple tree and proposals to use the fruit from these to create Egremont products for sale in the local shops was the first incarnation of the community orchard project.
An area originally identified for ornamental planting was given over for a community orchard within the Gateways contract. The aim is to involve the community in running a social enterprise that plants and manages the orchard, producing distinctive Egremont apple based products that raise the profile of the town, increase skills in the community, provide enjoyment and a source of pride to those involved, helping reconnect Egremont with its historic past.
The orchard of one hundred trees occupies a bank to the north of the town, between a housing area and the main road because this area is highly visible and accessible.
A selection of six apple varieties, including traditional local kinds and those known to thrive in the area has been made, with the intention that their fruit will be usable.
Pictured left, members of schools and community groups approached to join Cllr. Ann Faichney in the planting of the first trees in early March.
A local apple expert with experience of similar projects elsewhere in the country advised on apple trees and community involvement, including training opportunities and on how income can be generated from the crop.
Other partners in the planning stage have included Egremont and Area Regeneration Partnership, Age Concern North West Cumbria, Community Action for Egremont, Copeland Borough Council, Copeland Homes, Grizedale Arts and West Lakes Renaissance.
The social enterprise will work alongside the De Lucy Community Resource Centre, a partnership between Age Concern North West Cumbria and Community Action for Egremont. The group will be overseen by the Egremont and Area Regeneration Partnership and in time the De Lucy Community Resource Centre Management Committee. The De Lucy Centre will be the beneficiary of any income from the sale of products in due course.
There will be ongoing opportunities for people and schools to remain involved in the project. Sessions are to be arranged on pruning and maintenance of the orchard and on the use of the apples in future years.
Hopefully there will be a small crop of fruit in the first and second years, with the first substantial crop coming in the third year. The initial crop will be used to raise awareness of the project and to recruit more volunteers. The apples will be given away at the Crab Fair and at events later in the year.
It has not yet been finally decided how the processing of any crop will be carried out, although there are a number of viable alternatives. Initial crops might be divided up amongst volunteers for processing to pre-agreed recipes, either provided by the individuals or by the Community Orchard Committee. Jars will be provided, and labels marked up with the Egremont Orchard logo (to be designed by local school children with an artist's involvement) and distributed either for hand completion of ingredients, or pre-printed with the appropriate standard recipe. Alternatively, the facilities at the De Lucy Centre might be employed to create the products.
Continuing support for the project through grant funding is anticipated, in particular through the European funds to be distributed via the new Local Action Groups in the successor to the Leader Plus programme, for which this project is especially suited.
The project has been funded as part of the Market Town Initiative by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, West Lakes Renaissance and the European Regional Development Agency.
