2024-12-31-accounts

Lagoon View Community Orchard Association Chairmans Annual Report for 2024 We have enjoyed another successfuLyear at the Orchard, with many regular and occasionalvisitors. It remains a favourite destination for children with wheels. Scooters, bikes and roller skates allow happy chiLdren to whizz round the circular path. Any mishaps generally land on the grass. The Short House is a popular venue for imaginative games. The Woodland remains a favourite for many, with den building and exploring insect life with a magnifying gLass. For adults, it's a calm and peaceful retreat, with visitors sometimes as dawn breaks. Dog walkers too are regularly there and we thankthem for clearing up (usually) aftertheirvisit. The working parties, on the first Saturday of the month (10.00-12.00) brings together a small group of enthusiasts, who weed and prune, as the season requires. Our crops this last year were patchy, with bumper crops of some apples and figs. However, no pears and fewer cooking apples. We must have had patchy weather at blossom time. In Aprilwe had a visit from Borderline Morris Dancers, who properly entertained and involved the crowd. Jack Frost was driven away and the trees encouraged to be fruitfuL with libations of cider. It was a sunny day and funds were raised to set against our modest costs. These cover insurance and equipment costs. Duringthe year, our esteemed and energetic secretaryjohn moved away and we thank him for alL his excellentwork, from the early days. In Julywe held our annual BBQ, again with fine weather. The brick BBQ is avaiLable for any residents to use, forfamily occasions. In October, as the last apples ripened, we celebrated the crop with apple pressing. Quite a bit of finejuice was produced with energetic work on a manual press. We applied for a designation forthe Orchard to be recognised as an'Asset of Communityvalue,. This was duly granted by North Devon District Council. We hope this will heLp secure the long-term future of the Orchard, which is still owned bythe original estate developer. It means that if the area is ever put up for sale, the Association must have first option to buy. We hope the original intention for the land to be adopted by the council can be achieved in due course. As the winter approached, we marked the Remembrance Daywith many knitted poppies. The Orchard is a communityfocus, in the absence of anyvillage Hall or meeting place. Into the New Year and pruningthe dormant trees is the main job. Some of them are getting pretty big. If anyone would like to help or more generaLLyget involved in this great project, please contact us. Chair's Report for [e-mail]

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