Newly-planted trees in Littlehampton

The 20 pupils from the town’s River Beach Primary School joined 15 volunteers from the community to plant the 27 fruit trees, including some rare Sussex varieties of apples, in a field at the rear of the Maltravers Park.

Once the orchard is established, numerous community activities will be organised, including apple pressing, fruit tree maintenance and fruit cookery lessons.

The idea stemmed from renewed interest in the plight of the traditional orchard and Sussex varieties of apple.

Many community orchards have been planted in schools and neighbourhoods for people to use as a resource and to help combat this loss.

Staff in Arun District Council’s parks department were keen to set up an orchard here, with the aim of the Maltravers project being a pilot scheme for many more across the district.

The council has launched the scheme with the Brighton Permaculture Trust, Arun and Worthing Mind, volunteers from the St Winefride’s Community Gardeners and the Arun Wellbeing Team, with the aim to promote education in food, improve mental and physical health and to encourage interaction with nature. The orchard will also help to preserve local varieties of fruit and at the same time increase the range of wildlife and plants in the area.

Helen Wilson, Arun’s senior community parks officer, said: “With great interest and support from the St Winefrides Community Gardeners, based at Littlehampton Community Services, we knew the orchard would be well cared for.

“We are now hoping to establish a new ‘Orchard Group’ – a committee of volunteers to help decide on the future management and events associated with the orchard and Maltravers Park.”

Anyone interested in the project is invited to join by calling 01903 737956 or emailing [email protected]