The Community Orchard: Ezart Avenue

The orchard is located along the pedestrian walkway in Ezart Avenue between house numbers 32 -38 and 40- 48. This treelined walkway has fruit blossoms in the spring and in Autumn residents are able to harvest the fruit. Besides offering fruit, these trees enhance the area, offer shade in the summer and support biodiversity for example, moths, butterflies, birds and bees.

Before creating the Orchard the following points needed to be considered:

● What support could be expected from the residents?

● The type of tree

● Sourcing the trees

● Cost of planting

● Maintenance of newly planted trees

Also in this part of the Avenue there is rainwater running off when there are heavy downpours of rain. This rainwater has entered residents’ gardens. Planting trees may reduce or eradicate this problem.

The residents view

From conversations with the residents it became clear they had reservations which were mainly about trees potentially being too tall, invasive and perhaps obscuring light. But all were in favour of the orchard.

The height of the Trees

Fruit trees with the right fruit stock usually do not grow more than 15 feet. Future pruning will maintain a maximum height of 15’ and pruning will help the trees health, maximise fruit quality and yiel .

The fruit trees chosen

● Eating apple,Golden Delicious, Royal Gala Red, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Ellison’s Orange Pippin

● Cooking apple,Bramley

● Dessert pear,

● Dessert Cherry

● Victoria Plum

● Damson

These trees will be additional to trees planted in the area by the builder and the apple tree planted by Elaine.

Sourcing the Trees

The challenge in buying the trees: internet v local supplier. The internet offers a wider choice of tree than the local supplier. With the internet it is sight unseen, a shot in the dark. The local supplier might be slightly more expensive, but you can see what you are buying plus the local supplier is able to advise on the type of tree, the best way of planting and maintenance. The supplier of the trees is the local plant nursery, East Keswick Plant Centre.

The cost of tree planting

The fruit trees chosen are about 2 years old and cost between £30 and £40. The add on cost of stakes, ties, compost and fertiliser make the average cost of a tree to be £35. The labour is free.

Maintenance of newly planted trees

The main focus on properly maintaining new trees is the watering. Ideally during the first year watering should be at least once a week and more often during hot spells. April has been the first warm spell of 2026 and has meant more than one evening welding the watering can. A time consuming activity.

Outcome

A community orchard with 18 fruit trees, a treelined pathway and happy residents.

Barry Curtis Apr 2026