Project History – Rodney Stoke & Draycott Community Orchard

The Rodney Stoke and Draycott Community Orchard project was conceived to transform an under-used area of land adjacent to the Memorial Hall and overflow car-parking area into a productive, biodiverse, and inclusive community space. Early discussions identified the opportunity to combine traditional orchard planting with accessible design, informal seating, and wildlife benefit, creating a place that could be used for quiet
enjoyment, community events, and educational activities.

Local consultation generated strong support, with residents expressing enthusiasm for a shared orchard that would reflect local heritage
while remaining practical to maintain.
The project has been developed in close collaboration with the Parish Council, local volunteers, and specialist advisers including orchardists, arborists, engineers, and ecologists. From the outset, emphasis was placed on good horticultural practice, long-term sustainability, and clear technical
documentation to ensure accurate delivery on site.

During 2025–26, several funding streams were secured, enabling the project to move from concept into delivery. These included a National Lottery Awards for All grant, a Somerset Foundation Trust grant for an accessible path linking the car park to the central area, and smaller grants for tools and
equipment. Once funding was confirmed, the group was able to proceed earlier than anticipated with the purchase of trees and essential materials.
Tree selection was undertaken with professional orchardist input, prioritising locally appropriate heritage and dessert apple varieties. Due to limited availability of bare-root stock late in the season, most trees were sourced as two-year-old half-standard container-grown apples on MM106 rootstock, with one heritage cider apple (‘Rodney Stoke Red’) supplied on M25 rootstock.

The orchard layout was carefully designed to balance accessibility, tree health, and future canopy spread. A central circular seating area is surrounded by evenly spaced apple trees, with clear paths and a defined perimeter allowing for hedge management access. Precise measurements and a
contractor setting-out sheet were produced to remove ambiguity during construction, confirming the site geometry, centre point, and governing dimensions.

The project continues to be delivered as a community-focussed initiative, with volunteers involved in planting, mulching, watering, and future management. Over time, the orchard is intended to mature into a valued local asset, supporting biodiversity, local food production, and shared social activity