AN exciting new community orchard project was this week officially opened at Strawberry Hill, near St Dominic — the site of an old orchard abandoned many years ago on the Pentillie Estate.

Just seven apple and three pear trees remain from the former orchard, but three years ago, 80 new, local heritage trees were replanted by staff at Pentillie Castle.

On Tuesday, St Dominic Growers officially took on the new orchard as part of the family of community food project Tamar Grow Local, with the official opening performed by South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray.

The established trees will provide a harvest this year, and the young trees will begin to fruit in the next few years.

Apples that are not eaten fresh will be juiced and pasteurised locally to be enjoyed year-round. The orchard site will also be home to the St Dominic Growers' community apiary.

Joe Kolinsky, of St Dominic Growers, said: 'We thank the Corytons for making such an outstanding site available to the community.

'Apart from benefiting from the produce we will be working closely with bodies such as Cornwall Wildlife Trust to support and encourage the wildlife and biodiversity of the site.'

Joe said the aim of the group was to maintain and enhance the site as a traditional heritage orchard, while benefiting from the produce.

It is already home to a variety of rare and protected daffodils, but the group also wants to develop a wild flower area. This will encourage insects and help feed bees — the growers already have one hive on the site and hope to increase the number.

Joe said: 'It is hoped the community apiary will encourage an interest in bees within the community as well as providing beginners with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience of bees and beekeeping equipment, by use of our hives under the supervision and care of the apiary manager.'

In the longer term, Joe said the group hopes to investigate production of Manuka honey, by growing Manuka bushes on the land. Tregothnan Estate near Falmouth is currently the only place outside New Zealand which produces Manuka honey.

Ultimately, the plan is to expand the project by using more land, enabling the community to grow vegetables and soft fruit and even start a 'pig club'.

Simon Platten, Tamar Grow Local project manager, said: 'It's great to be able to build on the success of the Harrowbarrow and Metherell Community orchard and welcome another community orchard into the family.

'We hope to support more community food projects of all kinds in this way and foster strong links between them to create a resilient local food system in the valley.'

The land is being rented from Pentillie for the honey from one hive per year.

Sammie Coryton, of Pentillie Castle, said: 'We are thrilled that the orchard is back in production, and even more delighted that it will be of benefit to the wider community.

'The Tamar Valley has a wonderful history of market gardening, and if this orchard goes even a tiny way to reminding people of the rich past of the area while providing an education, and also producing delicious honey, fruit and juices then that is something for us all to be very proud of.'

Anyone interested in joining the St Dominic Growers can call Joe Kolinsky on 01579 350112 or email joe.kolinsky@

yahoo.co.uk