Geopark staff and volunteers have planted a new community orchard on the National Forest site at Brookvale, near Groby. The planting has been designed with a modern twist, using newer fruit varieties of pear, apple, plum and cherry that will be more resilient to climate change, and produce fruits which suit current tastes.
The trees also have smaller root stock, meaning the fruit will be easier for people to pick. To complement the fruit trees there’s a foraging hedge, which includes edible fruits and nuts such as elder, hazel, dogrose and blackberry. This has been planted as a wavy rather than straight line to create sheltered habitats and an interesting border. Shallow ponds and wildflowers will be added over the coming months to create a space for the local community and nearby schools to enjoy.