IMAGINE plucking a ripe apple from your own community orchard.
That’s the dream of Redditch mum Emma Marshall and she’s calling on local people to help her raise the funds to make the dream a reality.
Emma has already got the blessing of Redditch Borough Council and land between Greenlands and Woodrow have been earmarked for the scheme.
Now all she needs to do is raise £250 to plant 20 apple trees in a meadow filled with wildflowers to encourage bees to pollinate the fruit.
So far £50 has already been donated and Emma’s hoping if enough people get behind the project it will become an asset not just for local residents but schools as well.
“I always had an idea to own some land and have an orchard on it but I live on Greenlands and thought that’s not going to happen,” said the mum of four.
“Then I was walking my dog across the fields between Woodrow and Greenlands and saw the potential for a community orchard.”
Emma contacted the council who looked at the options, gave their backing to the scheme and then chose a suitable location.
“They were really up for it and I’ve also been applying for grants but we need to get the local community really involved,” she said.
The hope is, if everything goes to plan, to plant the trees sometime in the spring.
“This is completely not for profit and 100 per cent of the money will go towards purchasing, planting and maintaining the site,” said Emma.
“I’m super excited about this and hope local people will be too.
“Just imagine a beautiful orchard and the fresh fruit, apple pies, cider or sloe gin the community will be able to make as a result.”
The site chosen is off Woodrow North and, having overcome the initial scepticism of her husband Chris, Emma’s hoping local people and those from the wider community will support the project.
For more details, search for Woodrow and Greenlands Community Orchard on Facebook.
