Almost a hundred fruit trees have been planted this month at sites across Rye. The trees, which are part of the Rye Community Orchard Project, were dug in by volunteers in spite of the wet weather.
With twenty-one fruit trees at Tilling Green and another thirty planted on the Mill Salts field behind Tillingham Avenue, the project is well under way. Organisers estimate that by the end of this week another forty-one apple, pear, mulberry, plum and cherry trees will be settled into their new home at Rye Town Salts, on the old pitch and putt field.
A large group of volunteers have stepped up to make all this possible, often braving the rain, the cold and the mud. As well as local residents, a Rye visitor and her husband extended their stay in Rye to participate in the planting.
Perhaps it was the delicious mulled apple juice that enticed them or maybe the chance to appear on ITV Meridian who recorded a feature story on Tuesday…
Image Credits: Dena Smith-Ellis , Dena Smith Ellis .
I am interested to know who is going to maintain these new trees? They will need to be regularly watered and kept free of grass and weeds during their early years. Has this been considered?
The community will be looking after them. You are welcome to help too.
We are in the process of creating a charitable non profit community association named Rye Community Orchards Group, open to anyone interested in helping to maintain the wonderful orchards we have been gifted.
Feel free to contact me if interested.
Graham at communitycompostsolutions@gmail.com