On the 5th March 2007, volunteers from the Stamford Community Orchard Group started planting a new Community Orchard in Stamford, assisted by children from local schools and encouraged by Lincolnshire County Council Chairman, Councillor Colin Helstrip.
The Orchard Group has been working over the past 3 years to organise this orchard, which is intended as a facility for the local community; to act as a resource for schools; to preserve wildlife associated with orchards and to retain local varieties of apples.
Included in the planting were varieties of apple that were originally bred in Stamford over 100 years ago - the Peasgood Nonsuch, Barnack Beauty and the Schoolmaster.
The children and volunteers planted 10 trees and some hawthorn hedgerow,eventually the site will have over 40 apples trees.
Funding for the project has largely come from the successful Stamford Apple Days, which take place on the first Saturday in October each year, and is planned again this year at the Stamford Arts Centre.
The land for the orchard has been leased from South Kesteven District Council, and the Woodland Trust Trees For All project has sponsored the hedgerow plants and tree stakes, whilst the Stamford Skells Trust has sponsored fencing and gates for the site.
Participants in the planting included pupils and staff from St Gilberts and St Augustines schoolsopacity: 1.00; width: 180px; z-index: 1; " />