Standen Fruit Farm Community Orchard Association
Annual Report for the year to 31 August 2024
The past year has been busy across the Orchard, and the Association has a range of good news to tell members.
We must begin with an apology. We migrated the membership records to an online database to make it easier to manage. However, things did not go as well as expected, resulting in a loss of the data and the need to rebuild the membership records. As a result, the flow of information to members has been less than we would have liked. We’re now back on track, so keep an eye on your in box for more regular updates.
The Association has been fortunate enough to purchase several plots from owners who have decided to sell. In addition, we have facilitated the sale of some other plots to the list of those who want to have a plot in the Orchard. We will continue to broker sales between those who want to sell and those who are interested in buying, and when plots come up and we don’t have anyone on the waiting list, the Association will strive to acquire them.
Following a couple of years of pruning demonstrations by Guy Pullen, the Trustees have engaged Guy as part-time Orchard Manager to handle routine maintenance across the 50 or so acres. Guy brings a range of skills and expertise to the Orchard, and his efforts are clear to see across the site.
Guy joined a number of Trustees and volunteers during the late winter in laying hedges on the boundaries of the Orchard – hard work that’s nonetheless an important maintenance task, for keeping the sheep in as much as the aesthetics.
The sheep have been welcome residents for much of the year, helping to keep the grass under control and providing a truly rustic look to the Orchard. We undertook a major programme of fitting protectors for trees to prevent the sheep – and indeed other animals – causing damage by eating the bark of trees.
We have deployed mechanical cutting as well, with brother and sister team of James and Harriet Barrow keeping the main pathways clear. Over the past few days, they have managed to mow the entire orchard in time for Apple Day. With the sheep stopping the grass from getting too high, the motorised mowing is easier than it would be without them.
Fundraising has been a major undertaking, and thanks are due to Kristina Edwards and Rebecca Cassidy in particular for the considerable amounts of work undertaken to secure grants.
Sussex Lund, Farming in Protected Landscapes and Countryside Stewardship have made grants for restorative pruning across the orchard and for installing protective tree netting to prevent the deer, sheep and rabbits from munching the bark of trees. Management of hedgerows is also covered by a grant.
We have been lucky enough to gain a grant to plant new trees in part of the Orchard. Around 100 young heritage variety trees are to be supplied by Mayfield nursery Heron’s Folly, and these will be planted in stages over the winter months in the open area in fields 9 and 10. The new trees will add to the stock of trees we have growing in the Orchard and replace some that are now starting to
Standen Fruit Farm Community Orchard Association
show their age. This work is part of an ongoing programme of Orchard renewal that will maintain the tree stock across the site.
The Amelia Museum in Tunbridge Wells selected Hawkhurst and Sandhurst to join a two-year project to raise awareness of the natural environment, and the orchard has been approached to be involved with this. A representative of the Museum will be at the Apple Day and will be happy to answer questions about the project.
In all, it has been a busy year for the Association and thanks are due to the immense amounts of work contributed by the volunteer Trustees: Susie Armstrong, Michael Brown, Rebecca Cassidy, Karen Christopherson, Kristina Edwards, Thai Goulton, Peter Hawkins and Charles Reed.
Without this remarkable team, the Orchard would not be in such a good state or have secured the specialist grants for maintenance work to protect this very special place.
Simon Spanswick Chairman of the Trustees 22 September 2024
Standen Fruit Farm Community Orchard Association
Charity Registration number 1152055