Community Orchards in Gloucestershire

Bringing Communities Together Through Orchards

Community orchards are wonderful spaces that bring people together to learn, work, and celebrate traditional fruit growing. Gloucestershire is home to many thriving community orchards, and the Gloucestershire Orchard Trust supports their development and management.

What is a Community Orchard?

A community orchard is:

• A shared green space planted with fruit trees
• Managed by and for the local community
• A place for learning traditional orchard skills
• A habitat for wildlife and biodiversity
• A space for community events and celebrations

Benefits of Community Orchards

Community orchards provide numerous benefits:

• Social - Meeting neighbors, building community connections, intergenerational activities
• Environmental - Creating wildlife habitat, planting trees, supporting biodiversity
• Educational - Learning about fruit growing, tree care, seasonal cycles
• Health & Wellbeing - Outdoor exercise, fresh air, stress reduction, access to fresh fruit
• Cultural - Preserving heritage varieties, traditional skills, local food culture

Community Orchards Across Gloucestershire

There are community orchards throughout the county, including in:

• Gloucester
• Cheltenham
• Stroud
• Tewkesbury
• Forest of Dean
• Cotswolds

Starting a Community Orchard

Interested in starting a community orchard in your area? GOT can help with:

• Site assessment and planning
• Variety selection appropriate for your location
• Planting advice and tree sourcing
• Training in orchard management
• Connecting you with other community orchards
• Ongoing support and guidance

Get Involved

Whether you want to volunteer at an existing community orchard or start a new one, GOT can help connect you with opportunities in your area.

Community orchards often hold regular work parties, seasonal celebrations like wassails and apple days, and offer training in traditional orchard skills like grafting and pruning.