The Vision

What was the vision and what happened

The vision for the Baslow Jubilee Community Orchard developed in 2012 was to develop an amenity area off Over Lane (see the map), and along Over Lane.  The scheme would include:

• planting predominantly apple trees with a small number of plum and damson;
• aiming to use older and more local varieties to help preserve local and threatened apples; and
• incorporating a ‘story circle’ for use by the local school and provide an area for other communal activities.

The area was originally an open space with sloping sides and the central flat area used for children’s ball games.  The tree planting has used the sloping areas and a portion of flat land alongside an existing large oak tree – this has preserved the flat area so that children’s play and ball games can continue (see The Plan).

The intent would be that the Orchard would enable a number of community activities, including apple days, ‘juicing’ events and training days on fruit-tree pruning and grafting.  This would also help bring the community together by involving a number of local organisations and people from across the Baslow and Bubnell areas.

There is an ambition, in time, to develop the concept of an ‘extended’ orchard with tree planting in other suitable areas of the village. A “hay meadow” habitat to be created around the trees.

The above was the vision set out in 2012, thirteen years on, it is fair to say that the vision has been realised and the residents of the village can be proud of what has been achieved.