A community orchard has been opened in Pleasley to provide free, locally-produced fresh fruit and serve as a hub for community events and ventures.

Pleasley Community Orchard was started in May 2015 by Matthew Arnold, an Anglican lay pioneer minister for Fresh Expressions, based in the parishes of St Augustine’s (Mansfield) and St Barnabas (Pleasley Hill).

Matthew, who is chairman of community group Friends of Pleasley Community, said: “I am thankful to everyone who has been involved in this project so far.”

Mansfield District Council’s parks and open spaces staff, local ward councillor Sonya Ward, county councillors Diane Meale and Darren Langton, FPCO members, the church of St Barnabas, community volunteers and pupils from key stage two classes at Farmilo Primary School, Pleasley, have helped the project.

Children at the school helped to plant trees and bulbs and also entered a competition to design the logo and slogan, which can be seen on a noticeboard at the orchard.

The project was funded by organisations including the district council, the Postcode Local Trust, Keystone Financial and the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

Contributions were also received from Coun Ward and The Woodland Trust, which donated 105 hedgerow trees to the orchard.

The hedgerow is comprised of blackthorn (sloe), elder, crab apple, hazel and dog rose.

The orchard has 71 fruit trees, including apple, pear and plum.

The chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Coun Yvonne Woodhead, who planted a tree with pupils from Farmilo Primary at the official opening (above), said: “The orchard is a fantastic community project and a wonderful resource for local people to come together to learn new skills, enjoy the natural surroundings and tuck in to some tasty, fresh fruit.”

Portfolio holder for the environment at the district council Coun Andrew Tristram said: “With its free-to-access policy, anyone can come to the orchard and engage with events that are put on. There is an opportunity to learn new skills such as planting, harvesting and beekeeping too once the beehives are installed.”

FPCO are hosting a workshop on 3rd December in St Barnabas Church to teach members of the public how to build willow lanterns for display during their carol service in the orchard on 15th December.