On ‘ National Orchard Blossom Day ’, Baroness Jenny Jones, the Green Party Peer, accompanied by Newnham Greens , came to see her tree. A ‘ Mère de Ménage Apple’ joining ones planted for Sir David Attenborough, Dame Judi Dench, Chris Packham , Sir Partha Dasgupta, Sir David King.... & a ‘Worchester Pearmain Apple’ for Coton’s own, Christopher Rayner (who planted the original 12 in 1 922) chosen by his son Peter. “I’m am absolutely thrilled by my ‘Lady of the Lake’ apple, remarked Dame Judi Dench, “and am only sorry I won’t be around in 100 years to see it become a Champion” .
Coton Orchard was bustling with Brownies and rippling with Rainbows as part of Cambridge Sustainable Food ’s “ Food for the Planet Festival ”. Brown Owl Catriona Manville, ably helped by a team of volunteers, led the 1 st Hardwick Rainbows and 3 rd Hardwick Brownies on a special activity - filled afternoon designed to explore the relationship between nature and the food we eat and to earn their RSPB ‘Together with Nature” badge.
Coton Orchard’s weekend Bioblitz gets nature fans in a flutter of excitement. Last Summer (and will do again this year) we took a ‘snapshot’ of the wildlife in Coton Orchard. The ‘Bioblitz’ is organised with On the Verge, Cambridge, and the activities and recording led by experts from various fields. Records from the event are passed on to national recording schemes and will help to build our knowledge about the biodiversity in the Orchard.
Coton Orchard is home to Queen's Cox apple trees that span the reign of HMQEII. In 2022 another was added for the orchard centenary and in commemoration of Her Majesty's passing. We also took part in the Woodland Trust "The Queen's Green Canopy" project to honour Her late Majesty's reign by planting 420 hedgerow trees (Rowan, Crab Apple, Wild Pear, Hawthorn, Hazel...) and 80 heritage apple trees. Adding another 420 hedgerow trees in 2024 for the "King's Hedgerow".
East of England Apples & Orchards Project
EEOP offer a range of fruit-themed workshops throughout the year at venues across the east of England. Subjects include pruning young and old fruit trees, orchard management, formal fruit-tree pruning, fruit identification and setting up a new orchard. Classes in Coton Orchard run from January to March each year and are listed on the EEOP website.