Local Orchards

An easily accessible orchard situated a short level paved walk from the main carpark at National Trust Blickling Estate.

A brand new 30 tree community orchard, planned and planted in 2019, with help from Orchards East. A lovely place for a picnic or walk, which can be linked with a visit to Priory Woods. Look out for the quince tree!

An orchard and walled garden in the middle of Chantry Park in Ipswich. A range of horticultural activities offered - for schools, work placements, older and younger people - you can also volunteer. It's also a lovely place to visit for a walk.

Planted in February 2019 with support from Orchards East, this 12 tree community orchard forms part of Chatteris Town Council's new Little Acre Pocket Park - a green space where everyone can enjoy the huge Fenland skies. You can walk to the park from West Street or do a circular walk by linking with the Old Railway Line footpath.

At Clare Cemetery, access off High Street opposite St Peter & St Paul's Church. This Orchards East supported community orchard was planted in 2019, with a range of heritage varieties, including some from Suffolk. A lovely peaceful spot for a walk or contemplation, with added bonus that you might see a barn owl - they are sometimes seen hunting at the site. The fruit is free for all to enjoy.

Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Road, Braintree, Cressing. The orchard, near Cressing Temple Barns visitor centre, has nine varieties of apple from East Anglia, all planted in 1993. Now a mature and very productive site. Of the nine varieties six come from Essex - D'Arcy Spice, Chelmsford Wonder, Essex Queen, Monarch, Sturmer Pippin and Edith Hopwood. Cressing Temple is a fantastic place to visit - the 13th century barns themselves are extraordinary.

Nr Etonbury Academy, Stotfold Road, Arlesey, SG15 6XS. Planned and planted with Orchard's East support, this is a newly established "reference orchard", featuring heritage Bedfordshire varieties, such as those from Laxton Bros' nursery. There are 35 trees, all sourced locally from C. Carpenter Horticultural Services. The orchard is located to the rear ofthe Sports Centre at Etonbury Academy (walk down the path alongside the artifical football pitch) where there is parking available. It is also accessible off Etonbury Green Wheel walking route;

Fairfield Park, Hitchin Road, Fairfield. At the site of former Fairfield Hospital (also known as the Three Counties Lunatic Asylum) you will find this fantastic example of an old institutional orchard. Planted to provide fruit for both staff and patients, the orchard will have also provided a welcome green space - and continues to do so today.

Felbrigg, Near Cromer, Norwich NR11 8PR. Part of National Trust Felbrigg Estate, is a wonderful walled garden, with architectural espalier fruit trees, with a sizeable orchard attached. It's really close to the carpark so accessible for those with limited mobility. Produce is available in season. Pay for entry.

Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1NA. Suffolk Wildlife Trust manage this wonderful reserve near Woodbridge. It includes a large orchard with some absolutely delicious old fruit varieties - try the Sturmer Pippin straight from the tree in December. Fantastic for a family walk and the on reserve staff offer supported school visits for students of all ages.

Great Wymondley Recreation Ground, accessible from Graveley Road. Orchards East helped plan and plant this new 40 tree community orchard in early 2020. Featuring heritage varieties, including less well known Hertfordshire varieties, you can also find an increasing range of wildflowers among the grasses - including bee orchids in early summer.

Gressenhall, Beetley, Dereham, NR20 4DR. Featuring an historic orchard and fantastic annual Apple Day, this farm and workhouse, managed by Norfolk County Council, is a great day out for families and school groups.

Hainault Lodge Nature Reserve, Chigwell IG7 4QW. Maintained by Redbridge Conservation Volunteers, the orchard is more than 80 years old, with pears, apples, plums, quince and a mulberry.

The Limes (next to the recreation ground), Harston, CB22 7QT. A wonderful large established community orchard, featuring mature and veteran trees, wildflowers in the grassland, thick wildlife rich hedges. A brilliant place to visit. Go in summer and look and listen out for the highly endangered Turtle Dove - the orchard and its hedges make perfect nesting habitat. A must visit! Easy access with parking at the recreation ground.

Highfield Oval Harpenden Herts AL5 4BX. There is a wonderful example of a surviving institutional orchard at this former Harpenden children's home. It's a fantastic place to visit with children, its heritage really does come alive.

Edgefield Hill, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6SP. A forty tree orchard planted in 2019 with help from Orchards East. The fruit trees follow a woodland ride in Holt Country Park, providing an additional resource for people and wildlife.

Bowling Lane Kenninghall (access down green lane, across from St Mary's Church). Part of Hemp Meadow Wood, this 32 tree orchard features a notable range of regional varieties including Adam’s Pearmain, Dr Harvey, Green Roland, Harling Hero, Hubbard’s Pearmain, Norfolk Beefing, Norfolk Summer Beefing, Norfolk Honey Russet, and Norfolk Beauty.

Langford Village Hall, Maldon Road, Langford, CM9 4SS. Orchards East helped Langford & Ulting Parish Council plan and plant this lovely community orchard. Located to the rear of Langford Village Hall, alongside the River Blackwater, it's a fantastic place for a walk or picnic - perhaps in conjunction with a visit to the adjacent Museum of Power. Look out for the hand painted pictures of the fruit varieties on the site's information board. A community shop, based at nearby St Giles Church, will sell some of the fruit when in season.

Behind Limbury Mead Garage, 333 Icknield Way, Luton, LU3 2JR. Located behind Limbury Mead Garage, you will find a mix of older established trees together with new plantings, partly supplied by Orchards East. Local Bedfordshire varieties are featured. There are also wildflowers and benches to enjoy the open space.

Hurst Lane, Little Downham. A large collection of fascinating Cambridgeshire and East of England fruit varieties, brought to life through an information board and tree tags. Its slightly raised location gives super views over the Fens. Tie in a visit with a walk through the adjoining Pingle Wood Nature Reserve.

Fletchers Lane, Middleton, IP17 3NZ. Planted in 2019 with support from Orchards East. The 17 plums, damsons, apples ands include some Suffolk varieties. The site is part of Middleton Recreation Ground, and is easily accessible with parking off Fletchers Lane. The fruit is free for all to enjoy!

Milton Country Park Cambridge Road Milton CB24 6AZ. Planted in 2006, a thriving orchard of local heritage variety trees. Also managed for wildlife - with wildflower and hedgerows.

Park Road, Moggerhanger, Bedford, MK44 3RW. Explore the grounds, walled garden and orchard at this Humphrey Repton landscaped estate. It is a pay for entry site.

Nr Mowsbury Golf & Squash Centre, Ravensden, Bedford, MK41 8BJ. What a place! An orchard featuring Bedfordshire varieties from Laxton's Nursery in Bedford... inside a wood inside an Iron Age hillfort! There's also a wildflower meadow for good measure. It's accessible from the carpark at Mowsbury Golf & Squash Centre.

Stowmarket IP14 1DL. Working with Orchards East, the museum planted a large traditional orchard over 2019 and 2020. It features an amazing range of heritage varieties with strong links to East Anglia as part of the museum's wider farming and food collection.

Ringshall, Battisford Tye, Stowmarket IP14 2LY. As well as an orchard to explore, Orchard Barn offers a wide range of courses including roundwood timber framing, greenwood carpentry, wattle and daub, fruit tree pruning...and many more

People's Park, 22 Arden Place Luton LU2 7YE. A new 20 tree community orchard, supported by Orchards East and planted in 2020, by volunteers from Edible High Town community gardeners. You'll find the orchard located on the northern side of People's Park, a mix of apples, pears, plums and damsons - free for all to pick.

Accessed via piblic footpaths, Sawbridgeworth. A heritage site including the remaining part of a once enormous orchard at the site of Rivers Nursery. More than 500 trees remain with over 100 varieties (some still to be identified). The orchard site and the adjacent wildlife site can be accessed via public footpaths from High Wych, via permissive footpaths from Sawbridgeworth, or from the Rivers Hopsital access road walking only. If coming by car, park in The Crest (Sawbridgeworth) or Brookfields (High Wych). Please do not park on Rivers Hospital access road or car park.

Located to the east of the roundabout at the junction of Creekview and Broughton Roads, Salthaven, Essex. A sizeable well established orchard, fruit free for all to pick. Includes some local Essex varieties - such as Discovery, D'Arcy Spice and George Cave. Managed by volunteer work parties from Essex CC parks dept.

Pinchmill Close, Sharnbrook, MK44 1HT. A recently planted community orchard adjacent to the allotments in Sharnbrook village which Orchards East was happy to support. The site is accessible via a footpath through the allotments from Pinchmill Close. There are 20 trees and the fruit is free to share.

Radlett Lane, Shenley, Herts, WD7 9DW. Shenley Park has an orchard meadow and walled garden, which dates back to the 16th century. The orchard features heritage varieties such as Laxton's Superb and Lord Lambourne. Fruit, and juice, is available to buy during the season. Car parking and entry is free. Look out for events through the year!

Rectory Rd, Stisted, Braintree CM77 8AL. The orchard of 45 trees was established in 2008, replacing the remains of an earlier one. It is adjacent to the Village Hall, and managed by volunteers led by the Trustees of Stisted Village Hall. The orchard is next to the allotments and community wildlife pond and is home to two colonies of bees. There is a parking area next to the orchard and it's a lovely place to visit as a family or for school groups. The Village Hall organises an annual apple pressing day and has hosted pruning workshops for the community.

129 Eastwoodbury Lane, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6UY. Managed by Trust Links, St Laurence Orchard is a peaceful space for people and wildlife. Regular summer volunteer work parties help maintain the apple, pear, plum and greengage trees. Also look out for events at the orchard. For more information, or to get involved, visit Trust Links' website.

Croxley Green Rickmansworth WD3 3HX. A wonderful green and peaceful oasis in Croxley Green. Originally a 12 acre site, leased to George Stone in the 1880s, a wide range of mature fruit trees remain in species rich grassland. An easily accessible walk from Croxley Green Community Club, which is near Community Way carpark.

Tumbler Hill Swaffham PE37 7JG. Adjacent to ESCAPE Community Gardening Project at the allotment site in Swaffham. A sizeable orchard and green space, free to visit with fruit available for all.

Station Road, Swavesey, CB24 4QJ. Orchards East helped plan this new 40-tree community orchard on the edge of Swavesey. Within easy walking distance of the guided busway between Cambridge and St Ives, and parking closeby. As well as a range of traditional apples, pears, gages and plums, look out for wildflowers under the trees. The orchard group are planning to create a pond for wildlife on the site.

Upper Green Road Tewin Hertfordshire AL6 0LZ. An orchard and nature reserve in one, managed by Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust. The orchard has veteran trees and local varieties, and a hide for watching badgers.

112 Brooker Rd Waltham Abbey EN9 1JH. Planted in 2019 with help from Orchards East. The orchard, in Town Mead Park, features a mix of apples, pears and plums. More information available from Waltham Abbey Town Council.

Foster Road, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 9JP. Open to all to visit, this community orchard was planted in 2007. As well as preserving heritage varieties, the orchard is a wildlife haven, and features a swift tower.

Wandlebury Ring, Gog Magog Hills, Cambridge, CB22 3AE. Part of Wandlebury Country Park, this established historic walled orchard features unusual heritage varieties, veteran trees, wildflowers and wildlife! Also look out for newly planted espalier trees along the old wall - planted with help and advice from Orchards East. There is plenty of parking available (£3 charged) and loads of walks and things to do and see at the Park.

Upwell Village - Blunt Trust Orchard. Part of an estate left in trust to the community of Upwell, this old orchard is being renovated and improved by the Blunt Family Trust volunteers. The orchard is open to the public to use as a walk area, a picnic area, an educational area in conjunction with the local school and as valuable community space.