A new sign has been unveiled to help inform visitors about Nantwich’s riverside orchard.
Mayor of Nantwich Cllr David Marren joined Nantwich in Bloom members to unveil the sign on Nantwich Riverside behind Shrewbridge Road.
It is located by the side of the path to Queens Drive which crosses over the River Weaver.
The orchard, which celebrates its 10th birthday this year, originally started as four apple trees planted by Doug Butterill with children from the Weaver Primary School in 2008.
In February 2013, the orchard was dedicated to the memory of Tony Gentil – a founder member of the Cheshire Orchard Project and ex-lecturer in Horticulture at Reaseheath College and who also played a huge part in the sites’ development.
It now contains 45 fruit trees, including 38 assorted apple trees, three pear trees, two damson, one plum and a greengage.
The layout of the sign which provides information about the orchard and details of the labelling of the trees, was designed by Stephen Reid and features photographs of the orchard, courtesy of Malcolm Reid.
The sign has been produced by Johnsons Printers.
Jamie Brelsford, from Johnsons, volunteered his services to help install the sign.
Mayor Cllr Marren said: “One of the Town Council’s main objectives is to keep the town clean, green and flowery and the way we try to do this by developing strong partnerships with Community groups.
“Nantwich Town Council has a long history of supporting Nantwich in Bloom who work so hard to make the town attractive to new visitors.
“The group is a credit to the town and this orchard a testimony of your work over the years.”
Sue Sherwood, of Nantwich in Bloom, added: “We have expanded the orchard increasing the range of tree fruit planted including more pears and damsons including old Cheshire varieties.
“We aim to identify, label and record all the fruit trees in the orchard.
“It is open access, so any members of the community can harvest fruit which they are very good at doing, hence no fruit left on the trees today for sampling.”
If you are interested in finding out more about the orchard or would like to be involved in its development, contact Sue Hughes, Secretary Nantwich in Bloom, on [email protected]
(Pic: Left to Right – Hillary Slack, John Falding, June Twelves, Councillor Stuart Bostock, Elizabeth Falding (widow of Tony Gentil), Mayor Cllr David Marren, Tony Percival, Malcolm Reid and Sue Sherwood)
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