Volunteers needed to help look after the Village Orchard in Dulwich
17 May 2019The Dulwich Estate has planted a new orchard in the playing field of the old grammar school site on Gallery Road, Dulwich, as part of its 400th anniversary celebrations.
The Orchard will open September 2019 for educational outreach use, fruit-harvesting and nature events, as well as a space for visitors to simply sit and enjoy nature.
The Dulwich Estate and the London Wildlife Trust would like the orchard to be used and looked after by the community. We are therefore seeking a voluntary group to help manage it as the trees become established and start to bear fruit.
The types of activities volunteers would be involved in include:
- Watering and mulching the trees throughout the summer.
- Young tree maintenance and pruning (full training will be provided).
- Installing bat and bird boxes to encourage wildlife onto the site.
- Managing meadow wildflowers and grasses.
Training will include wildlife friendly tree and meadow management; health and safety, risk assessments and tools talks; leading volunteer groups; volunteer management and the law; leading a community event; and safeguarding and child protection.
If you would like to find out more about the orchard or are interested in volunteering your time to help to maintain it then please email Andrew Wright at London Wildlife Trust.
We will be holding a public meeting in the summer to gauge interest and bring the group together. Watch this space for more details.
