Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, officiated at the naming ceremony of a new orchard in Essington, on Friday 13th June.
The name of the site, Future Generation Orchard, was selected through a competition by the children at St. John’s Primary School.
Due to an overwhelming number of excellent submissions, the final title was created by combining two separate entries.
The concept for the orchard was formed following a visit by Gavin to the Friends of Essington.
Gavin talked to the local organisation about a national impetus to rescue traditional old fruit trees from extinction. Following the visit, he then sent information to the group about other projects taking place throughout the country.
At first, the Friends of Essington sought to source tree varieties only from the Staffordshire area. However, the group found it difficult to find enough specimens and therefore decided to expand its range to Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
It finally selected the following varieties:
Apple - We have the following varieties: Worcester Pearmain, Shropshire Pippin, Pitmaston Pineapple, Lanes Prince Albert, Bramleys Seedling, Ashmeads Kernel, Downton Pippin, Puckrup Pippin, Yellow Ingestre, Damson Shropshire Prune and Gage Old Greengage.
Pear – Cannock Conference and Tettenhall Dick.
Plum – Victoria, Warwickshire Drooper and Yellow Pershore
The bare root trees were planted and protected in November 2013 by members of the Friends of Essington. They are contained within a hedgerow that was planted, in March 2013, by a class of children from St.John's Primary School.
The hedge plants were supplied by the Woodland Trust, who have supplied the group with over a thousand plants in the past eight years.
On the ceremony, Gavin said: “I was delighted to have been asked to officiate at the naming ceremony on June 13th. The Friends of Essington do incredible work and this was another great example of the lasting impact that they are having on the local area.
“There are few more enjoyable experiences than being able to plant something and watch it grow. This new orchard is a wonderful opportunity for the children of the village to learn about and enjoy trees, and their fruit, through their involvement in the maintenance of the site and the adjacent woodland.”