An orchard is being created on the site of the old Iron Age farmstead at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Huntingdon.  Tree-planting started in November when Huntingdonshire District Council rangers were joined by about 25 volunteers and members of the Friends of Hinchingbrooke Country Park who braved adverse weather conditions to plant the trees they have sponsored.

The orchard comprises many local and ancient varieties of fruit and nut trees such as Lord Lambourne apples, first recorded in Bedford in 1907, Cambridge gages, Victoria plums and Conference pears.  The trees are all grafted onto large root stocks which should insure that they become big trees and hopefully live for a long time.  Grafting ensures they are the specific variety, as opposed to trees grown from pips which may have been hybridised when the flower was pollinated.  The apple trees are four years old which is the age they should start fruiting next year.

The orchard should enhance the diversity of animal species found in the park by providing another natural food source and valuable habitat. “The blossom will be important for bees, including the honey bees on site, and the fruit will be valuable food for birds, insects and mammals, including foxes” said ranger Peter Hobbs, “not to mention all the humans who will enjoy the fruit fresh from the trees!”
 
Future plans for the orchard include picnic benches and seating and using fruit produced by the orchard in the cakes served in the café – if it is not eaten by the wildlife first!