Scarcroft Community Orchard on Scarcroft Green

A small orchard of nine trees, six apples, a pear, a plum and a cherry were planted in 2012 with funding from Micklegate Ward Committee. The trees were chosen for their heritage value as well as their superb flavours and hardiness. There is an information board on the site with lots of information about the orchard and the adjacent copse of native trees which were planted by all the pupils at Scarcroft School in November 2019.

The grassy sward beneath the trees has been planted and sown over the years with a huge variety of native flower species; there are 36 (and counting!) species in the orchard and copse area while only 5 on the rest of the green. The sward is scythed at the end of the summer and the cuttings removed to keep the area from getting too rich in nutrients.

The area is managed by local people with the help of folk from St Nick’s.

We have regular work and learning sessions: scything, pruning, species identification, habitat building. And regular celebrations and festivals: harvest and juicing, wassail, blossom time and a summer picnic. We are always very happy to have folk come along and join in. Contact laurapotts@phonecoop.coop to go on a mailing list for the orchard and to hear what is going on.