Official opening for new play area and orchard

The new combined wild play area and orchard on Steyning Downland Scheme has been officially opened.
Vernon Hewitt, Roger Brown and Alec Harden, left, with some of the donorsVernon Hewitt, Roger Brown and Alec Harden, left, with some of the donors
Vernon Hewitt, Roger Brown and Alec Harden, left, with some of the donors

Supporters joined members of the steering group and volunteers from Steyning Community Orchard in the Big Picnic Field, at the end of Nightingale Lane, on Saturday.

Vernon Hewitt, from the downland scheme, unveiled a new noticeboard and thanked everyone who had contributed.

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Alec Harden, from the orchard group, thanked those who had made generous donations to support the tree planting. Three trees were planted last winter and five more this year, with plans to plant more next year.

The willow tunnel play areaThe willow tunnel play area
The willow tunnel play area

Roger Brown said the apple trees had been chosen to be a mixture of shiny, red, sweet and juicy fruit that would appeal to children, together with some traditional Sussex varieties.

They had also been chosen to be a mixture of early and late varieties, so that fruit would be available over a long season.

Vigorous rootstocks were chosen, so the trees would grow to a good size and eventually form an attractive grove.

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Elfie Gloster had earlier led a team of volunteers in creating a willow tunnel and other children’s play features. Logs have been arranged for play and picnicking, and the whole area is surrounded by a dog-proof fence.

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