Owlthorpe Fields Conservation Group
Site Work
4th August 2025 - Path clearance and new entrance path created
The much overgrown path has been cleared, making access to the orchard main gate much easier and more pleasant. We have also created a new path to the small gate. So, you can access the orchard from either of these entrances. Please ensure you shut the gate fully on exit. Thank you.
24th July 2025 ............and the gates are up!
The two gates have now been installed and the orchard really is looking good. Both gates will remain unlocked so please feel free to go in and have a wander. There is still much work to do - the path down the side of the orchard will be cleared and an access path and 'Welcome' sign will be created leading to the smaller gate. More work will be carried out within the orchard to provide a central feature and a bench with interpretation boards with history of the orchard and the local area,
16th July 2025 - Erecting the Fence Around the Orchard
Over the last few weeks you may have seen Adrian, Tony from Sheffield Coutryside Conservation Trust and their volunteers busy working on the orchard. Further mowing and bramble clearance has taken place, but more likely you will have noticed the fence that they have been erecting.
The fence and gates (to be installed imminently) are designed to give the orchard a sense of place in the landscape, so it is more of a feature for the local community to enjoy and look after as a community venture. The gates will remain unlocked and all will still be able to access the orchard. The orchard is a work in progress, and there is still a way to go before completion. Once completed it will be a calm oasis where you can come and sit for five minutes (or more!) of mindfulness or watch/listen to the local birds, insects and inspect the wildflowers.
Take a look below at what we have been doing recently.
On October 4th 2025 we will be holding our very first Apple Day. More details will be posted about this on our Events page in the next few weeks. Keep your eye on it so you don't miss out. With so much fruit on the trees this year it promises to be an exciting day. Let's hope the weather is kind to us.
16th April 2025 - Sowing the orchard meadow
Today was a bit of an exciting milestone for us - the orchard meadow was sown with a native wildflower/grass mix. Adrian and Tony from Sheffield Countryside Conservation Trust and their band of volunteers (with a little help from us at OCG) cropped the remaining brambles, sowed the seed and raked it in. We're hoping that the forecast rain will come along and give the seed a boost.
To celebrate this milestone the lovely Christine provided homemade chocolate cake to keep the crew going, and it was much appreciated by all!
We're looking forward to seeing the orchard flourish in the coming months, whilst we get on with the next stage of the project. Keep checking this page for future progress and upcoming events.
April 2025
With the beautiful spell of settled weather we had in early April the heavy machines were brought in and the top soil removed for final preparation before sowing the native wildflower mix for the meadow.
February 2025
Following the successful National Lottery Fund application the team really got into gear. The steering group began regularly monthly meetings in November 2024 to keep on top of the project. In February 2025 the groundwork began in earnest with the scrub being removed in reparation for top soil removal prior to seeding with native wild flower mix for the meadow.
Hedge laying was also continued to complete the line.
September 2023
All the trees were tagged and their precise locations GIS mapped.
February 2023
Organised by Sheffield City Council Community Forestry and Sheffield Fruit Trees we held a fruit tree pruning workshop to give the community the skills necessary to maintain the orchard (and their own fruit trees!)
October 2022
The orchard hadn't been touched for a few years so a clearance was carried out to make the trees accessible for harvesting fruit, whilst preparing for the National Lottery Funding application.
