First Roots Put Down in Community Orchard

The first apple tree has been planted on Tuesday in Henley’s Community Orchard on a piece of land owned by the Town Council between Paradise Road and Leaver Road (formerly an allotment site).

The rest of the orchard will be planted in January and will see a mixture of fruit trees along with blackberries and raspberries bushes.

The Mayor was joined for the planting which took place in National Tree Week by Jan from the Fairmile Vineyard, Victoria from Chelsea Fringe Henley, Martin from Toad Hall who will be supplying the trees and bushes, Marcus Militello, the Town Councils’s  new conservation warden and local residents.

Henley Mayor, Councillor Kellie Hinton said, “The orchard will be planted in January and it’s a really exciting initiative. Originally it was being handled by the Recreations & Amenities Committee of Henley Town Council and not Henley in Bloom, which is odd and now that everyone is on board such as Jan from the Fairmile Vineyard and Victoria from Chelsea Fringe, Martin from Toad Hall and so on, the project is really gaining momentum. I can remember coming to a site visit originally and speaking with some local residents, which seems like such a long time ago, so I am pleased that it is finally being planted!”

Kellie has also launched an initiative in her Mayoral year to plant a tree for every child in the town.  The trees in this orchard will be part of this initiative.