February 2019 – March 2024
It’s 12:45pm on Saturday 9th February 2019 and I am standing in a small clearing surrounded by dense overgrowth and undergrowth in what will become the Donkey Lane Community Orchard.
Earlier in the week we had made our way through the narrow path cut from the lane and cleared an area to accommodate about 10 people. I am waiting, along with Alan, wondering if anyone will come. We have a small bag of tools, some hi viz jackets, gloves and bundles of enthusiasm. This is the first of three working parties that we will have in the coming week. People said they would come, but would they?
To get to where we were on that day in 2019, I need to go back over the previous 15 months.
How we got involved
In November 2017, Greening Chinnor were approached by Nick Marriner, Landscape Partnership Development Officer from the Chiltern Conservation Board. He had been put in contact with us via Chinnor Parish Council. He wanted to discuss the potential involvement of our group with their forthcoming ‘Rough around the Edges’ (RATE) project, which was part of a larger Lottery Funded Chalk, Cherry and Chairs 5-year Landscape Partnership Scheme programme for the Chilterns.
He explained that the Landscape Partnership Scheme would weave together three main themes – local wildlife, local heritage and local people, this would be across a whole host of different projects designed to engage people, celebrate the area, and protect and enhance the Central Chilterns landscape.
The Scheme would be funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the HS2 Community & Engagement Fund, and would be managed by the Chilterns Conservation Board.
Initially our involvement would be in connecting and increasing wild life areas around Chinnor – RATE.
As the discussion about the project went on, we found out that restoring old orchards was part of the project – hey presto – we knew of a disused orchard!
To find out more about the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs project go to www.chilterns.org.uk/chalkcherrieschairs/about-project
Why did we get involved?
A good question, but why not? We are a local environment group working to look after our wonderful area. We knew of the Orchard site and knew it was incredibly overgrown.
After being put in touch and meeting with Claire Conway-Crapp from the Mid-Shires Orchard Group, we knew the apple varieties could go back to the mid-1800s and we should try to preserve these heritage fruit trees. We further found out from an earlier rough survey taken in 2013 by Derek Tolman of Bernwode Nurseries, that there were at least 19 apple trees on the site plus the Chinnor plum.
We saw it as a potential relaxed and enjoyable space for all - we could all enjoy and share the harvest of fruit. It would make a good social and educational outdoor space, we could encourage schools, nurseries and other local groups to use it as an ‘outdoor classroom’. We wanted to explore the social history of the site: Who lived there? What was their story? There was the opportunity to learn about and increase the biodiversity of the area. Identify and record the flora and fauna and extend its value as a wildlife habitat. AND Training opportunities: Learn the skills to manage an orchard: pruning, coppicing, hedge-laying, etc. An opportunity to good to miss.
Where is the Orchard?
Donkey Lane Community Orchard occupies a small area of privately owned land next to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway on Keens Lane, Chinnor. You will find the Orchard on the right-hand side after the crossing, accessed by a gate.
The lane that passes the Orchard has been variously known as Hollands Lane, Guntrips Lane and in more recent times as Keens Lane. Locally it is known as Donkey Lane possibly due to the donkey blacksmith located nearby. On the site there were three double cottages built probably during the late 18th Century and finally pulled down about 100 years ago.
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