We would like to wish all of our members a Happy New Year!
It was a wintery start to 2025. The trees and bushes were covered in snow and it’s hard to believe that in only a few months they will be covered in blossom again.
A Wintery Start to 2025!
Category: Orchard
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.
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!
A Bird’s Eye View
We recently has some ariel photos taken of the Orchard and Margery Flatts Allotments. These amazing photos, taken using a drone by Barrie McDermid, they show the scale and layout of the Orchard and allotments. It’s hard to believe but just a few years ago this was just a grassy field.
New Arrival!
An orchid has been spotted growing in the orchard. It may be a Common Spotted Orchard and we will update this post when this has been confirmed. Another example of the diverse wild life flourishing in the Orchard.
Update! This is a Common Spotted Orchard and we found another one when looking for the first orchid!
Summer Solstice
Two of our Orchard members set an early alarm so they could watch the Summer Solstice from the Orchard. Standing in front of the Walnut tree was the ideal place to watch the sunrise.
Wild Flower Meadow Maze!
Four weeks of rain, sun and some dedicated mowing has created a beautiful wild flower meadow maze in the central square in the Orchard. If you want to visit the maze, the Orchard is open from dawn to dusk every day. Everyone is welcome.
A’maz’ing Orchard!
Last year we left a large part of the central square un-mowed. Nature created a beautiful wild flower meadow.
This year we have gone one step further. One of our orchard members has designed a wild meadow maze for our enjoyment and puzzlement! A few weeks ago the maze was measured out and mowed. Two weeks on and the design is now showing. Watch this space for updates about it’s progress.
Aurora Over the Orchard
On Friday evening, 10th May, many of us were outside late in the evening watching for a rare glimpse of the Aurora. One of our orchard members was able to capture this image from the orchard.
Lanchester Community Orchard 