Did you know we have a small community orchard near Enna’s Cafe on Tyne Green? The orchard contains a lovely selection of fruit trees some with very enigmatic names such as Sunset, Discovery, Keswick Codling, Gold Hornet and Ashmead’s Kernel.
In recent years the orchard has faced some challenging times as Matty Bevan of Hexham Space 4 Nature tells us.
In March 2018, 14 fruit trees, funded by Transition Tynedale, were planted by volunteers including members of Hexham Lions who also arranged for a farmer to place a boundary of rocks and generously paid for a permanent sign to mark the orchard.
Two trees were lost to vandalism early on. Several years of growth followed but then in June 2024 ponies tethered at the site damaged one tree and another was lost completely. At the same time the sign was removed.
A repeat of pony grazing in June 2025 resulted in two trees being uprooted The tree that was damaged in 2024 is stunted and smaller than the remaining orchard. There are currently 9 trees left.
Attempts are being made to secure expert advice on the management of the orchard. This has not been achieved yet but we have gratefully received an offer of help from a new volunteer to oversee the orchard including regular observation and winter pruning. Currently large trees growing next to the orchard need to have some branches shortened, they are overcrowding the fruit trees; also the chicken wire around the tree bases needs to be removed. More on this in due course but in the meantime if you are skilled at fruit tree management or would like to volunteer at the orchard we’d love to hear from you.
