TOP ORCHARDS

 

 

CALVERTON

 

Rear of Calverton Place, Lower Weald

 

Increasingly derelict orchard comprising 2 groups totalling about 40 apple, and a few ex-espaliered pear in deserted walled garden. Apple varieties include: Annie Elizabeth and Wealthy, pear: Marie Louise and Williams Bon Chretien. Access: public footpaths including Calverton Circular Walk.

 

STONY STRATFORD

 

Cofferidge Close

 

Former market garden/paddock turned local shopping centre, with 10+ apple, a few pear (some espaliered), hazel and walnut, in a mix of remnant and new planting. Access: in and around public car parking.

 

OLD WOLVERTON

 

Manor Farm deserted medieval village site

 

Solitary crab (possibly cider) apple: hollow, split and lost crown, but one of few trees in MK classified as ‘Ancient’ by Woodland Trust. Access: footpath off ex-farm drive with entrance near canal bridge car park 

 

WOLVERTON

 

Wolverton Community Orchard

 

Old allotment site comprising 30+ trees in mix of apple, pear, cherry, plum, damson, mulberry etc. Recently planted by local people with support of Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council.  One of several local foci promoting ‘urban agriculture’. Some nearby Victorian terraced houses retain original fruit trees eg Red Robin pear. Access: footpath to rear of Western Road opposite Anson Road junction

 

BANCROFT PARK

 

15 apple trees in secluded area of North Loughton Valley Park. Access: off Willwford.

 

NEW BRADWELL

 

Fruit and Nut Walk

 

Recently planted collection of soft fruits, 250 hazel, 20 plum, 10 damson,15 cherry etc around circumference of Drill Hall allotments on MK Parks Trust parkland. Access: drive/footpath/redway off Newport Road

 

GREAT LINFORD

 

Great Linford Park

 

Several sites in vicinity of park include Old Rectory derelict apple/pear orchard (private), and more recent public apple and pear planting to rear of Artswork’s barn together with 15 apple along bridleway bordering Willen Lane paddock. Access: public park

 

STANTON LOW

 

Hanson Centre Wildlife Centre

 

50 Bird Cherry on western boundary of reserve near derelict St Peter’s Church. Good eaters. Access: footpath from New Bradwell or Black Horse canal bridges

 

NEWPORT PAGNELL

 

The town’s many large orchards have been drastically reduced by building development since the 1950’s, and garden orchards continue to be lost, including, very recently, large numbers of Edwardian trees to rear of Wolverton Road. Only a few remnants remain, for example Priory Street/Milton Drive, Severn Drive/Blyth Close and on the Ouzel western floodplain edge south of Tickford Bridge. Proposal for Heritage Orchard, using grafts from threatened specimens, being discussed with MK Council. Access: public highway/footpaths

 

WILLEN

 

Willen Local Park

 

Little known orchard comprising 20 mature apple in MK Parks Trust meadow adjacent to St Mary Magdalene Church. Access: road/footpath/redway off Milton Road/Newport Road/North Willen Park

 

DOWNS BARN

 

New 1.3 acre site, at junction of H4/V9 and accessed from Loriner Place, previously used as a smallholding, is being considered for development as a community orchard, with planning and design, commencing 2009, by Great Linford Parish Council in conjunction with local community.

 

MILTON KEYNES VILLAGE

 

Old village has many farm/cottage orchard remnants, together with Broughton Road allotment espaliers, a large walnut by All Saints’ Church, hedge damsons in the community garden by Bird’s Cottage, and a few trees in the Swan Inn beer garden. Access: view from public highway

 

WOUGHTON ON THE GREEN

 

Community Orchard

 

380 apple and 40 cherry planted in mid-70’s and now managed by MK Parks Trust for the community. Varieties include Buckinghamshire’s very own dessert apple Cox’s Orange Pippin and its cooker Arthur Turner, together with Bramley’s Seedling, Worcester Pearmain, and from nearby Bedford, Laxton’s Fortune. Cherries comprise Early Rivers and Governor Wood. Apple Day (mid-October) events sometimes held here. Trunks of many trees recently seriously damaged by Pit Bull-type dogs and owners. Nearby is private cider apple orchard. Access: various footpaths from Waterside (Peartree Bridge), canal towpath, or Newport Road.

 

PEARTREE BRIDGE

 

Linear Orchard, Waterside

 

Approximately 125 trees in two rows to rear of Waterside. Mainly dessert apples, with several Bramley (at the ends), a few pear and some lost trees replaced by Calley Pears. Due to be thinned and restored by MK Council Landscape Services working with local community early 2009.

 

SIMPSON

 

Several large farmhouse orchards lost to development with a few trees remaining, in particular on a series of small greens along Hamner Road, and the footpath between Simpson Road and Simpson Drive. Access: public highway

                                          

WALNUT TREE

 

Hindhead Knoll Local Park

 

23 walnut modern landscaped planting scheme, with other minor examples across grid-square, reflecting older trees associated with Walnut Tree Farm and Walton Manor. Also pre-let allotment planting of 30 apple at Boxberry Gardens, and others in Bergamot Gardens allotments. Access: public highway

 

WALTON HALL

 

OU Campus

 

Very old (propped) mulberry on lawn adjacent to Refectory together with greengage, both excellent fruiters. Also pear espaliers, apple and medlars in remains of Hall’s walled garden. Aylesbury Prune by pond. Walnuts in St Michael’s Church. Access: semi-private. 

 

WAVENDON

 

St Mary’s Close/The Green

 

Remnant orchard associated with long-demolished Villa, comprising 1 large apple, 3 pear and a listed, listing mulberry. Access: public highway off Walton End

 

WOBURN SANDS

 

Edgewick Farm Open Space

 

Community orchard comprising 18 trees on Woburn Sands Town Council land managed by volunteers, planted late 90’s. Access: Woodland Way.

 

BOW BRICKHILL

 

Sweet chestnuts scattered on northern edge of Brickhill Woods, some bearing sizable nuts. Access: footpaths/bridleways throughout woods.

 

OLD FARM PARK

 

Holst Crescent allotments

 

Pre-let but windblown planting of approximately 20 apple. Access: road/footpath

 

CALDECOTTE

 

Solitary ancient pear, hollow with lost crown, in centre of deserted medieval village site. Access: footpath off Monellan Grove/Caldecotte Lanei

 

FENNY STRATFORD

 

Fenny Stratford Community Orchard, Manor Fields Sports Ground

 

Recently planted and formally designed orchard comprising 50 apple, 8 crab apple, and 42 cherry funded by Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council. Fenced and with circular footpath and seats. Apple varieties include Blenheim Orange, Charles Ross, Discovery, Greensleeves, Grenadier, James Grieve, Laxton’s Fortune, Lord Lambourne, and Winstone. Older apple trees line approach drive. Access: Watling Street or Sycamore Avenue

 

SNELSHALL

 

Roadside planting of 100+ varied dessert apple on V1 corner of Water Spinney Wood. Access: road/footpath/redway

 

TATTENHOE

 

Tattenhoe District Park

 

MK Council-managed planting of 75 varied dessert apple at Hengistbury Road entrance. Older apple line road (ex-farm drive) and opposite is cottage orchard of approximately 40 apple and 5 pear, all very mature. Beyond is Howe Park Wood with ancient specimen of crab apple. Access: road/footpath

 

SHENLEY LODGE

 

Paxton Crescent Local Park

 

20+ apple and others by pond adjacent to Old Beams pub. Access: road/footpath

 

SHENLEY CHURCH END

 

Remnant orchard between to St Mary’s Church and playing field with very large pear and 5 apple. Also 10 damson at Shenley Toot, 10 apple in hedge at Sheppards Green. Access: road/footpath

 

GREAT HOLM

 

McIntyre Project

 

85 apple planted in mixed use (part-productive/part-decorative) hedge along project’s boundary with H5. Access: semi-private, visible from road verge

 

LOUGHTON

 

Church Farm

 

Picturesque pear against farmhouse by All Saints’ Church. Access: private but visible from Church Lane. Remnant MKPT orchard and adjacent private orchard between Leys Road and Pitcher Lane. Access: footpath

 

COFFEE HALL

 

Robins Hill redway

 

Planting line of approximately 25 apple and 30 pear cutting across whole estate. Large walnut by Christ the Vine church. Access: road/footpath/redway

 

CMK

 

Scattered amenity planting includes apple and pear to front of Christ the Cornerstone Church, Saxon Gate and to south of Theatre District, on Lower Twelfth Street

 

LINFORD WOOD

 

Majestic row of 9 remnant apple, presumably Bramley, on footpath off Foxhunter Drive. Access: footpath/redway

 

BRADWELL

 

Copse of 40 damson, presumably spread as a clone, in corner recreation ground at Loughton Road/Primrose Road junction. Access: road/footpath 

 

TWO MILE ASH

 

Stone Hill allotments

 

Well-designed pre-planted allotments now mature and fully let with tenants obliged to maintain formal layout and share fruit. Recent supplementary self-help planting. Access: private, but view through gate off Stone Hill

 

KILN FARM

 

Remnant farmhouse orchard now part of Sikh temple site. 3 pear, 2 apple, 3 cherry plum and 1 large walnut. Also plum clone temptingly overhangs redway. Access: private but visible from Watling Street/footpath/redway

 

WESTERN EXPANSION AREA

 

New expansion area engulfing 3+ farms, all of which have associated farmhouse orchards, but in various stages of neglect. One, Whitehouse Farm, has largest pear in MK (2.2m girth) in what was largest orchard in pre-MK landscape. Developers have adopted Fruit Tree Policy with retention of some trees, and mitigation/enhancement planting elsewhere. Possible grafting of felled trees being considered, and transfer to part of large community garden to maintain succession. Local varieties also to be investigated. Access: the future.

 

Mel Jones

December 2008