Located close to the entrance of Holgate Allotments, the Community Orchard is a place for local residents and plotholders to relax and enjoy all the benefits of nature in the heart of Holgate. There are seven apple trees, selected to produce a variety to fruit over a long period of time, with a mix of modern and heritage varieties. The apple trees are surrounded by raised beds planted with pollinator-friendly perennials, which will provide a beautiful display over spring, summer and autumn. A seating area next to honecycomb-shaped flower beds provides a great spot to unwind.
The orchard is publicly accessible and open for all to enjoy.
From neglected allotment plot to community space
For many years the orchard site lay neglected and unloved as Plot 57. Although part of the allotment site, this plot had not been cultivated for many years. In autumn 2021, the Site Secretary and Holgate Allotments Association Committee came together to revive this space. Inspired by historical maps and oral histories, which indicated the site was a small orchard in the early 20th century, they decided to create a space that could be used by both plotholders and the local community.
Creating the orchard involved a lot of vision and a lot of hard work. The plot was overrun with brambles and had been used as a dumping ground for rubbish. But after a year and a half of preparation, the two-year old bush trees were finally planted in January 2023.
Take a look at our gallery to see how the site changed from neglected plot to a beautiful orchard.
Celebrating apples
Our Community Orchard is still in its infancy so it will be some years before we get a bountiful harvest, but there are plans to have an annual event for Apple Day in November, with juicing, apple ID and other apple related activities.
Holgate Community Orchard Friends Group
We would like to establish a friends group to maintain the orchard. If you are interested in helping out with some light gardening, such as weeding and watering, drop us a line holgate.orchard@gmail.com
Thank you
This project would not have been possible without generous support from the National Lottery Community Fund, City of York Council Holgate Ward Funding, and York Allotments Charitable Incorporated Association. Equally, we would have been lost without the hard graft and good will supplied by Good Gym.
Thanks also to Jules Fern who created the design for the orchard; to Chris Rivers Landscaping who helped level the site; to Chris Davies who helped build the honeycomb riased beds; and to our fantastic Councillor Kallum Taylor for supporting this project.
Louise Cantlay from Edible York provided invaluable guidance on tree selection and tree planting when we needed it most!
Holgate Allotments Association 