Sconce and Devon’s restored community orchard has been planted

The planting for Sconce and Devon’s orchard restoration project has begun, with the first fruit tree at the site planted by Councillor Emma Oldham and Sconce and Devon’s park ranger and volunteers.

The orchard will be a fantastic addition to the already popular Green Flag-Award winning park, and once it is thriving visitors and residents will be able to forage from a variety of native fruit trees including plum, crab apple, medlars and cherry!

This project will also enhance biodiversity and wildlife in and around the area, with orchards supporting a variety of flora and fauna, insects, birds, bees, bats, and small mammals as well as wildflowers.

Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services at Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “Whilst the work done to prepare the site does look a bit drastic at the moment, what we are trying to do is protect a really important and historic part of Sconce and Devon, with satellite data actually showing this orchard previously expanded all the way back to Hawton Road and was an asset to the local community, even during the World Wars!

“One of the best parts of this project is that any healthy trees that needed to be moved from the orchard site that have self-set have been added to our own tree nursery, which allows us to replant these trees across the district.”

“I can’t wait to see the orchard in all its glory as we move through the seasons, and I encourage everyone to pop down for a visit!”

Park rangers and volunteers have also created brand new footpaths for park visitors to explore the park. The footpaths have been developed through areas that had experienced heavy footfall, adding to the new pathways created in June which were key in keeping access across the park during the recent flooding. The development of the new pathways also improved the accessibility of the park by linking up existing paved routes, allowing wheelchair and mobility scooters to access areas of the park which until now have been inaccessible.

Councillor Oldham continues: “We have done what we can to protect what we have left of the ancient orchard, and whilst sadly we have had to remove some diseased trees to protect the health of the trees across Sconce and Devon, those trees have been recycled and repurposed as wood chippings and used for these new footpaths created around the park.”

An area adjacent to the new orchard has also been marked out as the site for a memorial rose garden at the park, as a place to remember loved ones and surrounding seating to allow for peaceful reflection.

To find out more about the environmental winter works happening across the district visit: https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/latest-news/2024/january/winter-works-are-well-underway-at-local-parks/