St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swindon

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Andrew’s Orchard is a community orchard supported by our community, passed onto future communities and will be treasured forever.

Below is the plan of the orchard:

Trees are one of our best natural defences against climate change and tackling and reversing the destruction of our world’s forests. Working together to plant more carbon-storing, wildlife-protecting, pollution-guzzling trees MUST be at the heart of our community.

Why plant an orchard?

For those families new to St Mary’s, you may be wondering why we are planting an orchard. On March 1st 2021, very suddenly, our former Executive Headteacher died. This had a devastating impact on our whole community. We would like to remember Mr Henstridge by planting an oak tree in his name, surrounded by 50 fruit trees that will bore fruit for years to come. These 51 trees will represent Andrew Henstridge’s 51 years of life. We will name the orchard, Andrew’s Orchard. We will never forget Mr Henstridge for the love and the light that shone from him.

Andrew Henstridge 1969 - 2021

"Love is more powerful, love gives life, love makes hope blossom in the wilderness." Pope Francis

Phase 1 - Preparing the ground - November 2021

Uneven waste land

Digger begins work

Clearing the ground

Levelling the ground

Ready for an orchard

Phase 2 - Tree Planting Week with the community - Saturday 4th December 2021

Tree planting week finally arrived for our school community to come together on a sunny Saturday morning to plant 50 fruit trees and 1 oak tree. Although it was cold, muddy and very sticky - we achieved a lot and safely laid all 51 trees to bed, as Alan explained, tucking them up well. Younger plants will establish themselves quickly and we can now sit back and watch them grow.

Early morning start

Breakfast

How to plant a tree...

Take a tree

Let's get going...

Find your spot

dig dig dig

Keep smiling

Dip it in solution

Ex pupils of St Mary's

Watch how it's done

Work as a team

Dig your hole

Admire your work

Give us a wave

Don't give up

Give it some wellie

Family Planting

Family planting

Alan with the Oak

Family planting

All families

Covered in mud

All families

Phase 3 - planting a natural hedgerow around the orchard

We have ordered 670 native hedgerow plants to include: hawthorn, field maple, dogwood, blackthorn, spindle, wayfaring tree, hazel and crab apple. Watch this space...

Andrew's Orchard

Why plant an orchard?

Phase 1 - Preparing the ground - November 2021

Phase 2 - Tree Planting Week with the community - Saturday 4th December 2021

Phase 3 - planting a natural hedgerow around the orchard