Garden & Orchard

Our award-winning garden has achieved the highest Outstanding grade for several years from the Britain in Bloom judges from the RHS. In 2023 we also won the Avon Wildlife Trust Wildlife Gardening competition. These achievements allowed us support through prizes and grants to continue the development of our garden.

Our community garden demonstrates organic growing methods. Garden and orchard design is reviewed annually with regular volunteers, who consider crop rotations, soil health and biodiversity enhancements. The volunteer team organises tasks (sowing, potting on, weeding, watering, pruning etc) needed to grow the produce. The garden is a mix of perennial planting (soft fruit, herbs, flowers to attract pollinators, etc) and annual planting of salads and veg. There are outdoor beds and two large polytunnels, plus various sheds to store equipment and make tea (very important!). Most paths are wheelchair-accessible, and we have a compost toilet.

We have an orchard full of apple trees, and cordon apples line the paths in the flower and vegetable garden. We produce some wonderful apple juice sold at a discount to our members. A traditional Wassail festival, held in January ensures that the ‘bad spirits’ are kept away from the trees and that the trees bear a good harvest. As well as a Master of Ceremonies, a wassail cup, toast and ribbons, we have the pleasure of traditional apple songs led by Walcot State Choir.