Donkey Lane Community Orchard

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About the Project

Photo courtesy of Nigel Ambridge

                                                                             

Donkey Lane orchard is situated on the eastern edge of Chinnor in Oxfordshire. It lies at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, on the south eastern side and adjacent to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway line. Donkey Lane (also known as Keens Lane) leads, by way of a bridleway, to the Ridgeway long distance path.

The orchard is owned by Mr Derek Nixey of Manor Farm. The site is presently an unused, overgrown and much neglected historic orchard. 

Access to the site can be difficult for not only is the site overgrown, but the orchard is situated by an unmade lane which is very wet and muddy in inclement weather and access is over a gated railway line. 

Historically this area was known as Chinnor Crossing and the plot of land originally had several cottages which fell into ruin with only an ancient well left to mark the spot.

A survey in 2013 found 20 apple trees and a single plum tree with some of the trees possibly being over 150 years old.

Why not have a look at the latest photos of the orchard in the The Donkey Lane Photo Albums. This is a collection of photographs taken by one of our intrepid volunteers, Keith Webley, who has been documenting the evolution of the orchard since we started. The albums can be viewed in any order but I would suggest that you start in chronological order and  just see the amazing work of our volunteers and the transformation of the orchard into a lovely, tranquil space. 

Aims & Objectives

Greening Chinnor believe the orchard is a valuable community asset and aims to: 

• restore Donkey Lane orchard to be a viable orchard for the benefit of  local people, visitors and wildlife
• encourage local residents to participate in the clearing, restoration, ongoing management and full enjoyment of the community resource
• enable full access to all
• make a social and educational outdoor space
• grow a harvest of fruit to be shared
• explore the social history of the site
• preserve heritage apple tree varieties
• appreciate and understand the biodiversity in the orchard

How are we going to do this?

By working in partnership with:

• Mr Derek Nixey
• Chinnor Parish Council
• Chiltern Conservation Board – Chalk, Cherries & Chairs, Landscape Partnership Scheme
• Mid-Shires Orchard Group
• Trust for Oxfordshire Environment (TOE2)
• Wild Oxfordshire
• local enthusiastic volunteers i.e. YOU

Our thanks to all who are helping make this project a reality