Orchards, Trees & Orchard ProduceBuckinghamshire information
Orchards, Trees & Orchard Produce
Buckinghamshire information
Where to get help
The Midshires Orchard Group covers Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. In 2007 the group formed a partnership with Stowe Landscape gardens, a National Trust property, where they will create a home orchard, help to restore the estates old orchard and fruit trees, run events and run training courses in pruning and grafting including restorative pruning of old fruit trees and traditional orchard management. The founders of the group, Andy Howard and Marcus Roberts already provide local varieties from the Heritage Fruit Tree Company, having grafted from local trees (see below). Contact: Midshires Orchard Group, +44(0)1295 712272, mandm.roberts[at]ukgateway.net or see www.msog.btik.com
Orchards and Community Orchards to Visit
Holmer Green was a place where people used to come to look at the cherry blossom.
Chilterns - there are remnant orchards in the Misbourne valley below Amersham. You can still see wild cherry trees in the Chilterns.
The most famous apple in the world was raised in Buckinghamshire before two boundary changes moved its home to Surrey then Berkshire. We found it odd that Colnbrook, where Richard Cox grew the first Cox's Orange Pippin, did not celebrate this in any way. So we worked with the then Colne Valley Park Groundwork Trust (now Thames Valley Groundwork and the Borough of Spelthorne (now Slough Borough Council) to create a Community Orchard in Albany Park, Colnbrook, with Cox's Orange Pippin trees and others, planted by local schoolchildren, and three specially made seats/tree guards in metal which spell C O X (see images above).
Read more about the history of the Cox's Orange Pippin and the creation of this Community Orchard.
Downley Community Orchard (just north of the Jubilee Allotments, access through Mannings Field football ground). Planting began in December 2003 with a group of local families. The orchard of apple trees was planted in the corner of Mannings Field next to the allotments with permission from the landowner Sir Edward Dashwood. Tony Speight from Wycombe Rangers helped with the planting. Trees already on the area were grafted and given new names: Willson’s Wonder and Rita’s Robin. Trees were sponsored by families, who will hopefully care for the trees as they mature. Apart from the routine activities of mowing the grass, pruning trees and general maintenance, there is an annual apple juicing day held in October to which the whole community is invited to bring along their apples to be pressed into juice. See www.downleycommon.org.uk
Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe HP14 4LA +44(0)1494 532580. National Trust property with a Victorian walled garden containing pear trees and fifty old apple varieties including the famous cooking apple Arthur Turner, which was raised by Charles Turner of Slough, and Morello and sweet cherries trained against the walls. In 1988-89, Simon Smijth-Winham, the Head Gardener, planted a new orchard opposite the walled garden with local and southern varieties. Ask them for details about their Apple Day in October. See the National Trust web-site for details.
Snakemoor Local Nature Reserve, Thame Road, Haddenham. A small orchard of 0.2ha planted in 2000 in a Snakemoor Local Nature Reserve by volunteers on behalf of the owners, Haddenham Parish Council. The trees are mainly apple with a few plum trees including Aylesbury Prune from Buckinghamshire. The orchard is managed without chemicals and much of the fruit is left for wild life, although some is enjoyed by visitors. There is a small seasonal pond. Wildflowers have been introduced. Bat boxes erected. There are many species of birds and bird nesting boxes have been installed. There is full access.
Wolverton Community Orchard, Western Road allotments, rear of Western Road opposite Anson Road, Milton Keynes. Wolverton Community Orchard Group have a formal agreement with the town council to manage and develop the area. The orchard of thirty trees was planted by volunteers, many of the trees having been donated by the community. A native mixed hedgerow is being established. The Victorian railings around the Orchard site are of particular local interest as they were originally from the Victoria Street recreation ground, rescued from the scrap yard. There is also a School Allotment, used by Wyvern School, assisted by volunteers from the Orchard, a demonstration allotment and sensory garden. A "dragon mountain" earth sculpture, which is very popular with children, was funded by Milton Keynes Community Foundation. There are annual events including Apple Day, and the group are pleased with the enthusiasm from local people, including elderly people living close by, unable to help with physical work but keen to help in other ways. The Orchard is very popular for picnics, especially for those with young children. The area is self-financing as the group apply for grants and hold a stall at Wolverton Farmers’ Market selling craft items, books and plants. The allotments and orchard are open to the public, although dogs are not allowed.
Woughton Community Orchard (left), Newport Road, Woughton on the Green, Milton Keynes. An orchard of half standard apple trees planted in 1976 on ridge and furrow pasture. The orchard is now part of Milton Keynes Parks owned by The Parks Trust. Varieties include Cox’s Orange Pippin and Arthur Turner from Buckinghamshire and Laxton’s Superb and Laxton’s Fortune from nearby Bedfordshire. The orchard is linear with rows of trees on either side of a path that links Newport Road to the Grand Union Canal Towpath. The fruit is available for anyone to pick and some is used for the annual Apple Day. There are also organised walks in the orchard including Pushchairs in the Park and Women’s Walking Network. There is open access at all times with a surfaced path and horse trail. Contact: Briony Serginson, The Parks Trust, 1300 Silbury Boulevard, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes, +44(0)1908 233600 or see their web-site.
Where to buy apples and produce
Home Cottage Farm Shop. Pat and Peter Hinde, Home Cottage Farm, Bangors Road South, Iver SL0 0BB, +44(0)1753 653064. 13 varieties of apples, plus pears, plums sold via farm shop or PYO. Camping available. They also celebrate Apple Day each year with Iver Nature Study Centre.
Peterley Manor Farm Shop and PYO, Peterley Lane, Prestwood, Great Missenden HP16 0HH, +44(0)1494 863566 or email jane[at]peterley.co.uk. Apples including Cox, Bramley, Katy and Discovery, and juice made from their own apples. Also cherries, plums and damsons. Organic based fertilisers ared used. The Farm Shop is open Tues to Sat 9am – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 1pm.
For details of Farmers' Markets in Buckinghamshire see the Farmers' Market web-site.
For more information on local food in the area contact the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Food Group which aims to improve access to healthy locally-produced food for all, +44(0)1296 383 345.
Buckingham Nurseries & Garden Centre, Tingewick Road, Buckingham MK18 4AE (+44(0)1280 813556) - 23 varieties of apple, field grown, available on various rootstocks, plus peaches, pears, cherries etc. Also now stock trees supplied by the Heritage Fruit Tree Company (see below).
Bernwode Plants, Kingswood Lane, Ludgershall HP18 9RB (+44(0)1844 237415) over 150 varieties of apples on various rootstocks, plus hazel nuts, pears, plums and cherries. They have rare Buckinghamshire apple trees, the Bazely and the Long Reinette and possibly the last surviving Black Prince apple. See their web-site for more information.
Heritage Fruit Tree Company, local varieties for Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. Contact: Andy Howard on +44(0)1295 810516 or Marcus Roberts on +44(0)1295 712272 or mandm.roberts[at]ukgateway.net for more information.
