The recent bad weather was not enough to stop a group of Larkhall residents brave the elements to help create the Community Orchard which has been set up at the local allotments – next to the Larkhall Athletic Football Club.
For many years numerous plot holders have attempted to grow vegetables, with poor returns, underneath the very large Walnut Tree which grows in the midst of the allotment plots.
Joanna Wright, local Councillor for Lambridge Ward – and who has a plot nearby – came up with the idea of turning plots below and adjacent to the Walnut tree into a Community Orchard.
The Council has agreed for this to take place and Transition Larkhall has agreed to be responsible for this new opportunity.
Some weeks ago over 35 volunteers helped clear the site ready for planting trees. Yesterday, 20 trees including pears, damsons and apples were planted on this new site by a group of local residents.
Carol Stone, a plant and tree specialist has been instrumental in helping to choose the right trees and plant them in the correct way on site.
Funds for this project has come from the family of Hyla Holden, founder of Transition Larkhall, who recently passed away and also from the Councils “Empowerment Fund”. If anyone would still like to make a donation to this Orchard, Transition Larkhall would be very grateful.
