Eynsham as Orchard

Eynsham used to be an orchard - onetime apple-capital of Oxfordshire - see map below. GreenTEA is helping it to become so again - planning fruit trees wherever there's suitable space - click here for more on this and pictures.

We'll have another map soon showing where we're hoping to plant.

Eynsham's first Apple Festival was held in October/10 Click here for more.

Eynsham as Orchard is a vision to recreate the village of Eynsham as a fruit growing area – making better use of existing fruit and berries and planting apple and other fruit trees on land within the village for local people to use and enjoy. Work has already begun.

The initiative has been developed under the umbrella of GreenTEA (Transition Eynsham Area) and is therefore part of a wider plan to create a more sustainable community and reduce the carbon footprint of the village and its residents. Our group will look after the trees and we are arranging courses for our members on pruning and care. We hope the orchards will demonstrate the benefits of eating locally grown seasonal fruit and will encourage the sharing of surplus crops. In the longer run the trees we plant will provide a free source of food. We are also keen to bring back some of Eynsham’s old apple varieties and celebrate our past as a successful apple growing area.

There are lots of trees in Eynsham where the fruit goes to waste. We are mapping where people can access and pick wild fruit and berries and nuts. Some people with apples to spare brought them to the Apple Festival to share - and we hope this might become a regular annual event.

If you have any questions or comments or if you wish to be involved in Eynsham as Orchard, contact
Sue Raikes GreenTEA. 16 Queens Lane. Tel 464 021