About Broadlands Orchardshare
Set up in October 2005, the orchard share scheme is aimed at putting a once neglected commercial orchard back on its feet with community involvement.
What is it?
Broadlands OrchardShare is a thriving community orchard in Bathford parish. It is run by volunteers, who are working to conserve and maintain the orchard to supply locally grown apples to the Bath area.
There are over 1000 trees at the orchard and in 2006 the whole site was very overgrown and choked with creepers and brambles. Since then lots of people have come along to monthly volunteering days to prune the trees, clear the brambles and pick apples.
We have made great improvements so far but there is still plenty to do to save the mature apples trees and improve their health and productivity. We aim to plant more trees to produce a greater variety of fruit - in February 2010, we planted 40 new trees including plums, greengages, damsons, and quinces. We are also creating wildlife habitats to increase the biodiversity of the site.
The orchard share is based on a gentleman's agreement with the owner of Broadlands. He allows access to the land rent free and takes 25% of the harvest and a share of tree sponsorships in exchange for the labour of the orchardsharers.
The orchard is next door to Broadlands Farm Shop on the Box road in Bathford (map, aerial photo).
What is it?
Broadlands OrchardShare is a thriving community orchard in Bathford parish. It is run by volunteers, who are working to conserve and maintain the orchard to supply locally grown apples to the Bath area.
There are over 1000 trees at the orchard and in 2006 the whole site was very overgrown and choked with creepers and brambles. Since then lots of people have come along to monthly volunteering days to prune the trees, clear the brambles and pick apples.
We have made great improvements so far but there is still plenty to do to save the mature apples trees and improve their health and productivity. We aim to plant more trees to produce a greater variety of fruit - in February 2010, we planted 40 new trees including plums, greengages, damsons, and quinces. We are also creating wildlife habitats to increase the biodiversity of the site.
The orchard share is based on a gentleman's agreement with the owner of Broadlands. He allows access to the land rent free and takes 25% of the harvest and a share of tree sponsorships in exchange for the labour of the orchardsharers.
The orchard is next door to Broadlands Farm Shop on the Box road in Bathford (map, aerial photo).
