Transition Derby

Before in December 2010

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago the first picture  shows the frost covered field to the left of Moor Lane in Littleover, which is the beginning of Millennium Wood, and twelve months later the picture below of a whole host of people planting the 101 fruit trees.

Now in December 2011

All of this is courtesy of Blagreaves Neighbour Forum, led by Cnclr Joe Naitta and supported by the Derby City Council in the form of Stuart Kitchen, the Estates Manager.

From an initial idea of creating some Community Gardens in 2010 Derby between Transition Derby and the City Council, Derby now has the Community Orchard taking shape. All of this just shows what can be done and it is only a question of time before more trees and bushes are planted to expand on the wide selection of trees planted like Apples – Laxtons, Bramleys, Discovery, Falstaff, Golden Delicious; Damsons – King Damson, Prune Damson; Plums – Cambridge, Greengage, Marjories Seedling, Greensleeves, Opal and finally Pears - Conference, 'Beth' Maiden, 'Doyenne du Comice' and more.

Certainly the planting was harder than I was expecting and sapped my energy pretty quickly, maybe because of not being that fit! And so how the younger generation from Littleover Moor School fared was quite an eye opener. They were going hammer and tongs. Every tree had to have a large square hole dug and then all the earth was “fluffed “up to allow the roots to grow and after some of the earth had been replaced, a mulch mat was placed over the top, covered with the remainder of the earth and finally the grass sod was turned over and laid on top to complete the job. It all looked very professional with a supporting stick and an anti-rabbit protector finished off the job.

Huge credit for this initial planting must go to the Blagreaves Neighbourhood Forum for the funding, Councillor Joe Naitta for pushing for more environmental projects and more local resilience, Stuart Kitchen for organising the planting with the local Littleover Moor School, the Friends of King George Vth Parks and Transition Derby for their support. Now all we need to know is when will the next lot of planting take place of maybe some soft fruit bushes and some nut trees.

©William Barron
Transition Derby
December 28th 2011