Dartmouth Community Orchard

22/09/2026

As we are now in September, and officially entering Autumn, it is time for another update on the Dartmouth Community Orchard...

​​Having enjoyed the sunshine over the summer months, the drought has left some of the trees in the Orchard stressed. Consequently many have either shed their apples in self preservation or only produced small or distorted fruits.

As a result, our Apple Day this year, on Sunday 27 September, will need to be a different format. There will be a small number of apples pressed to demonstrate the process and just a small quantity of juice for tasting.

A short talk will be given on the trees in the Orchard, how we have tried to support them during the drought and the potential consequences of the summers now being predicted.

Refreshments will be available and we will also have honey and chutney available - the honey will be available to Friends of the Community Orchard first as there is limited supply and we know how popular it is!! After 45 minutes or so the balance will be available to the general public.

Another outcome of the really dry summer is that the orchard ponds have been very low on water - sadly, this has caused most pond plants to die. The ponds were still a valuable source of water for local insects and birds and we will regenerate them.

In spite of the heat, the Orchard has still been a very pleasant and shady spot to ‘walk the dog’ or sit a while. We hope you have managed to enjoy some time in this special place.

We look forward to seeing you on Apple day at 11.00am on Sunday 27 September, at the Ridge Hill entrance to the Community Orchard.

Many thanks
Lee Thorneywork

28/07/2026

Lots of interest on the Community Orchard Bees and their Honey today 🍯
You might be interested to know that their honeycomb is being displayed as part of an exhibition in Gallery North Hailsham, part of Blue Monkey Network’s exhibition entitled “Hive”. 🐝
Apparently, it makes the gallery smell of flowers and honey 😍

https://artgallerynorth.co.uk/2026/07/09/hive-exhibition-by-the-blue-monkey-network/

28/07/2026

Bee team spinning orchard honey this week - no easy task 🐝 (you’d better beelieve it! 😄)

28/05/2026

Dear Friends

Please join us on SUNDAY 05 JULY at 11.00am at the Ridge Hill Entrance to the Community Orchard.

We are taking a slightly less formal approach to our AGM this year, trying out a change of venue and combining it with a gentle social event, whilst hoping for some summer sunshine to bless the orchard and its Friends. We invite you to meet us outdoors in the central area by the shelter where we hold our regular Apple Pressing event. The formal part of the AGM will start with routine business followed by your committee updating you on the highlights of the year. A brief written report will also be available on the day to take away.

AGM AGENDA includes:
* MINUTES of the AGM held on 30 April 2025

* ELECTION of Committee Members
Julie Downing, Jemma Pyne, Pamela Nicholson, Lee Thorneywork and Sally Walley have completed their second term of office and indicated their willingness to be re-elected. However your committee would be very happy to hear from anyone else who would like to join us.
A nomination form is available from the secretary Lee Thorneywork on [email protected] and needs to be completed and submitted to her by Tuesday 23 June 2026.
Julie, Pamela and Lee have also indicated their willingness to continue as Chair, Treasurer and Secretary respectively.
Juliet Mason-Jones, Robert Williams and David Thorneywork have all agreed to complete their second year of their term of office.

* FINANCE report for the year ending 31 December 2025 together with update on current balance etc.

* REPORT ON ACTIVITIES of the Friends since the last AGM

* OBJECTIVES for the current and forthcoming years, together with any financial implications.

* OTHER BUSINESS

If any Friend has any issue that they wish to raise under this heading please also email details to the secretary, as above, by Tuesday 23 June.

Please note that only Friends whose name appears on the register will be entitled to vote on any AGM item.

THE SOCIAL BIT

We hope you will stay and catch up with other Friends as well as join us for a decent cup of tea/coffee and cake etc. There will be no charge for this but a donation box is always available! (cash only on this occasion please). This is an ideal opportunity for you to also give us your feedback and suggestions which we welcome.

For further details, visit https://www.dartmouthcommunityorchard.co.uk/events

Lee Thorneywork
Secretary

DartmouthCommunityOrchard website is to help local residents and visitors learn more about the orchard, contact us and to get involved.

16/05/2026

Spring Update 2026 from our Secretary:

It feels wonderful to be writing at a time when the apple trees are resplendent in their blossoms - I recently read a quote ‘blossom by blossom spring begins’ and it seems so apt this year after such a long wet winter, and so many sad news stories. It is also interesting to see the different stages of blossom as the trees indicate if they fruit earlier or later in the season. We hope you too are looking forward to spring and have had the opportunity to visit the orchard.

The working parties were very behind with the pruning schedule as numerous work days were cancelled due to bad weather, but thankfully we were able to catch up better than anticipated and after some well attended and active sessions, the pruning was completed just in time - before the birds and insects need the trees to be left alone!!!

Work parties also managed to remove some of the invasive heliotrope which if left unchecked will stifle other plants. Whilst a useful early pollinator it will grow to dominate areas if left uncontrolled. Some has been left, but we wanted to try to control some of the heliotrope spread.

The bees have successfully overwintered and are now beginning to wake and be active. Please be aware notices are put out to advise the bee keepers are working around the hives. Please avoid disturbing the bee keepers and the bees during operations. Thank you.

​This year, we're taking a different approach to the AGM. We’ll still be following due process but intend to experiment with combining the meeting with an early summer social in the orchard. This event will take place at the Ridge Hill entrance to the orchard at 11.00am on Sunday 5 July 2026. We look forward to seeing our ‘friends’ there. Further information and ‘official paperwork’ to follow closer to that date.
Lee Thorneywork