© 2012 Headless Cross Community Orchard. Made by MAC
Notwithstanding the dreadful images that a name like ‘Headless Cross’ invokes, there’s
a local project that celebrates the abundance of fruit, bringing people together
for the common goal of a community orchard.
The Headless Cross Green community orchard has preserved an area of prominent leisure
space by planting more than 20 fruit trees. Work is undertaken by local residents,
including schools, and whilst they await the fruits of their labour they’re turning
their trowel to establish a wildflower meadow there too.
Planted in 2010 and with
uniquely Worcestershire varieties of fruit tree, one famed apple variety is the Doddin,
barely seen outside of Redditch yet with a heritage in the memories and stories of
elders around the town. In particular, the Redditch Everywoman's Circle planted a
Doddin to commemorate their 20th anniversary.
Helping to renew interest in fruit growing
and local heritage through the Doddin apple, we have worked closely with the Doddin
Preservation Society and a local organic nurseryman who is raising grafted trees
for sale.
Many of the other fruit varieties can be distinguished as county names;
like Lord Hindlip, Madresfield Court, Rushock Pearmain and Pershore Purple.
But who
could resist such suggestive tastes as the Pitmaston Pineapple, King Coffee and Yellow
Egg?
We have engaged local schools in the project, asking them to raise and plant
wildflowers for the meadow. During spring we have a remarkable show of daffodils
on the Green alongside the pavements. This is now followed by plum, apple and pear
blossom. Other notable new additions that are doing well are cowslips, ragged robin,
vetch and foxgloves.
Headless Cross Green was once a more urban site, as a row of
houses (with gardens) and shops until the 1970s. Since then several proposals have
been made to develop the site with buildings. In 2010 local residents came together
to plant a community orchard, in the hope of permanently preventing the threat of
building development.
In the last sixty years the orchard area of England has declined
by over 50%. This is no less true in Worcestershire, so community orchards like this
have a vital role to play in the future of food security and our landscape.
At long last, brilliant weather on the Green and lots of people enjoying the day! How long will it last?
May Fayre 2013
December 2010
A hard winter, with sub-zero temperatures for weeks, and two weeks just before Christmas with snow and ice on the ground. Brrr!
Click picture below for
history of the Green
This film was shot from a taxi through Redditch around 1968, thanks to Derek Young & Co.
Headless Cross Orchard has been awarded Fields In Trust (FIT) status.
FIT permanently safeguards outdoor recreational spaces in perpetuity via a Deed of Dedication. This legal instrument is unique to FIT and approved by the Charity Commission and allows FIT to act as a guarantor between any landowner and any potential future development.
The preferred model does not involve FIT owning or managing sites as FIT firmly believes this is best left in local hands with decisions made by local people. FIT protection provides reassurance that the future of any recreational site is secured for the benefit of future communities.
For more info click
Site Sponsor Sponsorpons or
Tree Sponsor Sponsorpons or
Tree Sponsor Sponsorpons or
Site Sponsor Sponsorpons or
The Butcher Boy
The painting “Headless Cross Shops” is by local artist Mark Pettifer.
Our thanks to Mark for allowing us to use it on the website.
Got any Pictures from May Fayre 2013? Looking for somewhere to display them?
Email them to us and we will display them on the website for you. Just say whether you want your name mentioned or not. Copyright remains with you.
info@headlessxorchard.org.uk
