Author: simonandeleanor

Earth Hour 2025

Saturday March 22nd.

This year we will be celebrating Earth Hour again in the Orchard.

“Since our beginnings in 2007, Earth Hour has been known for the “lights off” moment, with individuals from around the globe switching off their lights to show symbolic support for the planet and to raise awareness of the environmental issues affecting it.” https://www.earthhour.org/

Moles!

The moles have been making the most of the slightly warmer weather and softer soil. We now have a wonderful collection of mole hills in the Orchard! Moles are very shy, elusive animals and the only indication we have of them is the mole hills. They are one of the many creatures we share the Orchard with!

Wassail!

Our Wassailing celebration is now an annual event. We all gathered on a cold, sunny crisp morning to wake up the trees in the traditional way. Lots of noise, tapping of trees and bread and cider is supposed to give us a good harvest of apples. Our Green Man lead the way around the orchard, and we sang traditional Wassailing songs and read poems. Many thanks to our musicians and everyone who added to the event.

Celebrating the Winter Solstice

On a very windy and rainy evening, members of the orchard braved the weather to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Some well placed windbreaks made the forest garden a ‘cosy’ setting for our get together. Many thanks to Jim, Noel, Linda and Simon for providing the music. We shared poems, mulled cider and good food. We lasted about an hour before the weather drove us home but it was a very good evening.

Lanchester Community Orchard Wins Enviroment Award!

On Thursday 5th December, we attended the County Durham Together Awards on behalf of the Orchard Group.  We were nominated in the Environment category by person unknown and believe it or not we won!!  It was a great evening recognising the contribution of some very inspiring and humble people working in the voluntary and care sectors.

It also reflects what all of the Orchard members have achieved in the orchard over the last 14 years from the early vision and establishment, the stewardship of Lanchester Partnership and the enormous amount of hard graft that makes the orchard a success.  Everyone’s efforts during our regular work sessions which maintain the orchard have allowed us to achieve so much environmentally and socially and have made the orchard a lovely place in which to meet and just be in.  A huge thank to all Orchard members for all your hard work and friendship and to everyone who has supported the Orchard over the years- it’s humbling to be recognised in this way and thank you to our nominator.

Community Orchard Shortlisted for an award!

Lanchester Community Orchard has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2024 County Durham Together Awards in the Environment Category. This is a wonderful recognition of Paul, Sonny and Steve’s original vision, our achievements over the last 12/13 years, all our members hard work and the support of Lanchester Partnership.

The awards ceremony is set to take place at Hardwick Hall Hotel on Thursday 5th December 2024.

Apple Harvest Time

Orchard members and their families joined in with our apple harvest. The apples, all heritage varieties, were picked, sorted and shared and juiced. We were lucky to have another sunny day although a bit chilly. All members receive a box of apples and we also share the apples with our local organisations and community.

The only question remains… what to cook with all of our delicious apples.

Glorious Autumn!

On a sunny Autumn day there is no better place to be than the community Orchard. We hope you enjoy some of these Autumn photos taken by one our orchard members, Lynn.

Everyone is welcome to visit the Orchard and wander round enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of an Autumn day!