Behind the houses on Athene Drive in Ashenhirst nestled between Squirrel Ditch and Longley Woods Nature Reserve (What3Words ///rather.knots.goat) is the Community Orchard.
The access from Longley Woods can be a challenge in late summer and early autumn when the brambles have taken hold but a bit of effort with a strong stick and some long trousers can make a way through to some very tasty apples.
In September 2025 Louise and Lucy cut back some of the brambles to make the path a bit more accessible. We found plenty of ripe apples on a variety of apple trees. The last of the blackberries were looking a bit shrivelled but there were lots of acorns on the oaks. Unfortunately we didn’t find any pears on this visit but they may have just been hiding.
The weather in 2025 has been great for fruit trees and there are plenty to go around. Have a wander and remember to take a bag!
