Trumpington Community Orchard

It has been a rather difficult summer with the extended lack of rain but with the cooler temperatures in the autumn and some rain it should recover its greenery. Moreover, with the help of two groups of corporate volunteers we have managed some limited watering of the three new apple trees, the Gransden Galaxy, Wayside and Barnack Beauty, as well as the lime sapling planted near the picnic benches.

There has been a small crop of apples on a few of the heritage trees and a larger yield on the medlar though the quince is bare this year. The observational beehive remains inhabited by the wild swarm and it may be that our proximity to the Trumpington Allotments with the abundance of flowers on the vegetables has provided a constant source of pollen. We are still on the lookout for a suitable observational beehive design to replace the current one, but our plans to replace the swift tower with a larger design has taken priority.

This should provide much needed accommodation for our annual visitors next year, as we are almost at capacity now, with the return of 10 nesting pairs of swifts this year! They arrived in late April and departed with their fledged offspring in early August. The visitors continue to share the accommodation with the squatting sparrows and survived a few return visits from the local squirrels. Luckily the return of the intruders was in early July when the baby swifts were too large to be removed from their nests and predated.

It does appear that the pesky squirrel intends to nest in the tower over winter, carving out a des-res in the corner box, but there is a surprise on the way when the current box is replaced with the new larger one in late autumn. The current plan is to have a 1-2 metre length of flexible metal sheet covering around the telegraph pole below the swift box so there is a slippery barrier to the nest boxes, but any suggestions of proven solutions are welcome.

On 28 June, the Orchard held a successful small Midsummer Party to celebrate the life of one of the Community Orchard founders, Joanna Crosby, which was well attended by many of her friends from the East of England Apples and Orchards Society and our resident band of Wassail folk musicians. Joanna’s friends have raised funds for a memorial apple tree and are currently arranging for the grafting of one of her favourite varieties of cooking apple that will be planted next year.

The Orchard continues to be enjoyed by many local residents, old and young, and has provided a welcome cool relaxing space in the hot summer, especially in the shady cherry thicket. In anticipation of hotter summers, we have planted a small-leaf lime near the central picnic tables to eventually provide some shade for visitors. The next Orchard maintenance session is on Sunday 13 December. As always you need to come dressed in weatherproof clothing and footwear and we will provide gloves and necessary tools.

Hope to see you soon! Email us: trumpingtonorchard@yahoo.co.uk Visit: www.trumpingtonorchard.org or call Susanna on: 07722 568020