Our volunteers here at Newquay Community Orchard have been decorating slates and placing them along the espalier to create the Avenue of Hope – and hail a much-needed springtime for visitors to Newquay’s not so secret garden.
Steve Wright, Delivery Coordinator and familiar face to volunteers here at Newquay Orchard, led the project. It was his idea and creative way to ensure we could all remain connected, inspired, and celebrate nature during the third national lockdown.
Steve said: “The Avenue of Hope came to me when I was thinking about 2021 and what that might look like for Newquay Orchard.”
“2020 was a tough year for everyone and wondered how our volunteers might be looking forward to 2021 – what do they hope it will bring for them and their community? So we asked them to tell us in a creative, colourful and positive way, by lining the espalier with their own bespoke slate paintings.”
Volunteers collected the slates and painting supplies from the team at Newquay Orchard as part of their daily exercise and then returned them on another walk when completed. Dog walkers and nature lovers visiting the urban greenspace can now expect to find the Orchard’s volunteers’ artwork nestled amongst the soon to be blooming lavender lining the espalier.
For those of you that didn’t know, an espalier is the ancient agricultural process of training fruit-baring trees and plants to grow along a frame. Our espalier almost stretches across the whole site!
Along with planting over 700 new trees in 2021 the espalier will also see the addition of arched hoops which will provide a structure to which the apple trees can grow and shape.
Steve added: “It’s been amazing to create this Avenue of Hope at a time where spring is just around the corner and brighter, more connected times are in sight.”
Newquay Orchard is always open for visitors. This spring Canteen at the Orchard is set to open its doors for takeaways and picnics on the terraces, all following latest government guidance.