From the outset The Gransdens Allotment and Leisure Gardeners’ Society had, as part of its vision, the establishment of a new Community Orchard and a wildflower meadow, with a pond in the wettest corner of the site.
To push forward these plans a small group was set up with the following membership:
Rachel Partridge, Martin Partridge, Sheila Smith-Rawnsley, Anthony Mann, Sara Mann, Lindsay Simpson The group was very successful in securing funding to buy the orchard trees, with many local people ‘sponsoring’ trees.
35 trees were planted in January 2009 and more in February 2010. There are currently 65 trees in total. If it wasn’t for the following people we wouldn’t be where we are now. A special thank you to the orchard team:
- Sheila Smith-Rawnsley
- Anthony and Sara Mann
- Ann Cosgrove
- Martin and Rachel Partridge
A big thank you to:
- Bridget Halford, Tree Warden Co-ordinator, Huntingdon District Council
- Fabiola Blum, Biodiversity Partnership Co-ordinator for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
And we can’t forget:
- The Allotment Committee
- Jeff & Hilary Gorton, Shelagh Ross, Elaine Boyd, Lindsay Simpson & Craig Workman
- Tree suppliers: Eva at Asterby & Chalkcroft Nursery
- Martin Skipper, EEAOP
- Cyril Turner, who donated the Gransden Galaxy Tree
For advice and guidance:
- Laura Watson, The Wildlife Trust, Great Cambourne
- Keith Norton, Little Downham Community Orchard
- Carol Bard, Great Shelford Community Orchard
- And last but by no means least all our tree sponsors and supporters