Dartmouth Community Orchard

Dartmouth Community Orchard Dartmouth Community Orchard is a local green space and traditional orchard, and is a valuable area for both wildlife and the public.

We believe the it to be:
- A community asset that should be open to members of the public and their well behaved pets at all times.
- A place to conserve West Country fruit tree species, especially apples.
- A valuable space for a range of wildlife, both in itself and as part of a network of green spaces in and around Dartmouth. We interpret the term ‘wildlife’ widely to include trees and plants,

birds, mammals, amphibians and insects, and we believe that wildlife conservation involves not only safeguarding individual species or specimens, but in conserving the diversity which enables them to thrive. The Orchard occupies a prominent hillside position between College Way and Ridge Hill/Mount Boone. It covers 3.3 acres and is owned by Dartmouth Town Council who described it in their 2006 Strategy Document as a "community orchard" managed for wildlife conservation and quiet recreation. In 1995, field experts carried out a wildlife survey of its trees and plant life. It was clear that the Orchard is a valuable place for wildlife. Sixty-six species of plant including 'massive sweet chestnuts... a large Monterey pine... and some magnificent oaks' provided feeding, roosting and breeding habitats for birds like tawny owls, woodpeckers and blackcaps as well as other small creatures including bats. The Orchard is also rich in insect life. Since 1996 the orchard has been restored with the planting of 70 new apple trees and the introduction of seats and signage to encourage visitors to come and enjoy this special place.

17/05/2025

Is this moon walking in Dartmouth or just some of our very own Friends of Dartmouth Community Orchard on bee hive manoeuvres?!

More news on the bees coming soon ….

01/05/2025
Such a beautiful day in our wonderful Orchard!Did you know that most of the trees are individually tagged? If you scan t...
06/04/2025

Such a beautiful day in our wonderful Orchard!
Did you know that most of the trees are individually tagged? If you scan the code on either entrance gate, you’ll find details of each of them - their variety, their use and when you can expect them to fruit.
An incredible resource for the town (or if you’d rather, just a beautiful place to be).

We've just posted our Spring Newsletter on the website! New invitations to a social event in the Orchard and an open inv...
09/03/2025

We've just posted our Spring Newsletter on the website! New invitations to a social event in the Orchard and an open invitation to our AGM on 30th April (don't worry, we'll remind you again nearer the time 😁)

DartmouthCommunityOrchard website is to help local residents and visitors learn more about the orchard, contact us and to get involved.

Our Secretary, Lee, and some other friends in the orchard today sowing wild flower seeds - All of the seeds are native t...
09/03/2025

Our Secretary, Lee, and some other friends in the orchard today sowing wild flower seeds - All of the seeds are native to Devon.

20/01/2025

A great winter update from our illustrious Secretary Lee Thorneywork:

In spite of the cold and wet start to the year, the work parties have continued to be busy in the orchard. The orchard was raked in order to remove some of the vegetation strimmed by Dartmouth Town Council, pruning some of the trees, and removing some of the leaves off the heliotrope. This can be quite an invasive wild flower and although some are welcome, it was becoming too prolific and stifling other native wildflower species. The work parties have also cleared overgrowth around the substation.

If you have visited the orchard recently you might have noticed that we have put up some nesting boxes. We have also installed a couple of hedgehog houses too, one kindly made by Peter Aylward. In the cold weather we like to offer some shelter to the wildlife. The wildlife ponds have been planted with native, supportive plants to encourage more diversity, but we would ask that no dogs are permitted into these areas. Flea treatment on dogs will kill the wildlife that we are trying to encourage.

At this time of the year our bees are very quiet, huddled in the hive for warmth. They have been provided with special food to help them through the winter months, and we hope to see activity later in the spring. It is also hoped that we may be able to establish a second hive – watch this space!

09/01/2025
Not just Blackbirds after the last of the apples…Courtesy of Barbara Forey
02/12/2024

Not just Blackbirds after the last of the apples…
Courtesy of Barbara Forey

Just a few photos for now by way of a massive thank you to the Orchard’s Friends who made this mornings Apple Day such a...
19/10/2024

Just a few photos for now by way of a massive thank you to the Orchard’s Friends who made this mornings Apple Day such a success.
📌 has an absolute jewel in its crown at the 🍎 orchard and we’re all so pleased to have the opportunity to show it off this way.
If you’d like to become a supporter (less than the cost of 2 pints of the finished product), please have a look at the website or, if you just like visiting and feeling part of nature entirely free, please do!
PS Our Brownie friends made the day extra special!

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