Franklin Park Extension and Community Orchard, Meadow Area and Wildlife Pond

DIARY DATES

OPEN DAY - Saturday 20th March, 10am to Noon. An opportunity to come and have a look round the site to see if you can spot some spring flowers.

Telephone 0116 2899270 for further details

Next meeting of the Franklin Park Working Group - Monday 22nd March 2010 at 7pm, Braunstone Civic Centre. Anyone can come along and join us.

AN OPEN DAY IS BEING SCHEDULED SATURDAY 22ND MAY TO COINCIDE WITH THE BBC’S SPRINGWATCH WEEKEND
Keep a look out for further details of times and activities

Franklin Park Community Orchard - Background Information

The Town Council is pleased to have taken over the ownership of 1.11 hectares of redundant Braunstone Close allotment land from Leicester City Council to extend Franklin Park.

Following consultation with local residents on how the site should be developed, taking the views into account the Council chose to develop the site as a meadow area and Community Orchard and Wildlife Pond and planning permission was granted to the Town Council in September 2007.

The site has been redundant for over ten years so the first phase of the project has been site clearance works. These were completed in October 2007. The works have enhanced the existing character of the site and existing trees have been retained. It is already clear that the area of land will be an attractive and welcoming space for local residents and also a haven for wildlife. We have already discovered an abundance of blackberries and plums on site and we are looking forward to a Friends of Franklin Park Working Group to consider what varieties of apples should be planted in the orchard. It is expected that the extension will be officially opened next summer.

The next step of the project is for a Franklin Park Working Group to agree on future projects for the site, including the construction of a Wildlife Pond. The initial Fruit Tree planting for the Community Orchard will complete the first phase of the project in early 2008.

The success of this project will rely on the support and strength of the local community. If you would like to help or become involved in any way by, for example, serving on a ‘Friends of the Orchard’ Group, please contact me at ianlaughton@braunstonetowncouncil.org.uk or at the Town Council's offices on 0116 2899270.

Community Orchards

An orchard is a collection of fruit trees and should be open and accessible at all times. As well as enjoying the place, local people can share the harvest, taking responsibility for any work in the orchard. Community Orchards are now becoming more popular and Apple Day is celebrated widely on October 21st each year.

To find out more about Community Orchards and Apple Day – visit the Common Ground Website below.

Franklin Park Community Orchard is being developed with the help of

Leicestershire County Council - Stepping Stones Project & Shire Grants Scheme

Big Lottery Fund

BBC Breathing Places

Blaby District Council

Layout of Community Orchard

Below is the layout for the Community Orchard which will be planted in early 2008. If you click on the picture it will lead you to a separate page where you can find out more information on the varieties of apples that are to be planted. The layout was agreed by the Friends of Franklin Park Group.

How you can get involved

Franklin Park Events

Spring	View the blossom and bluebells
Summer	Hay Raking (July) Damson and Blackberry picking (August/September)
Autumn	Apple Picking Apple Day Celebrations Bulb Planting
Winter	Tree Planting (November to February) Pruning (November to February)

2009
Initial ideas for the following year include:
o An open day in the spring when the site is in blossom.

o Anyone who knows how to prune trees – perhaps a date can be set in February to help us out.

o In July the meadow area will need to be cut and a Hay Raking and Bring Your Own Picnic is planned.

o A request for donation of local varieties of bulbs will be made in September – anyone can come along and plant the bulbs and school children will be welcomed to join in.

o Again an Apple Day event in October.

Below are some of the activities that have already taken place.

Local Residents Plant Community Orchard on 23rd February 2008

Litter Pick May 2008

Apple Day Celebrations - 25th October 2008

Pruning Day - 14th March 2009

Open Day - 6th June 2009

Apple Day - 3rd October 2009

What else you can find on the site

Images of Franklin Park through the Seasons

A Diary of Flora and Fauna

Wildlife Pond

Friends of Franklin Park Working Group

The success of this project will rely on the support and strength of the local community. If you would like to help or become involved in any way by, for example, serving on a ‘Friends of the Orchard’ Group, please contact me at ianlaughton@braunstonetowncouncil.org.uk or at the Town Council's offices on 0116 2899270.

It is expected that the Group will take responsibility for progressing phase 2 of the project, including tree planting, maintenance of the fruit trees and organising community events at the site including the Apple Day Celebration.

Images of site - Before and After the site clearance

During the Site Clearance Works - 8th October 2007 - 24th October 2007

IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR WOULD LIKE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES PLEASE CONTACT -
Executive Officer & Town Clerk - Mr Ian Laughton
Braunstone Town Council, Braunstone Civic Centre, 209 Kingsway, Braunstone Town, Leicester, LE3 2PP.

Telephone: 0116 2899270
Fax: 0116 2824785
Email: ianlaughton@braunstonetowncouncil.org.uk

I'm deeply suspicious
Of Golden Delicious,
They taste like old blankets to me.
Just give me a box
Of sweet English Cox
Picked ripe from a real Kentish tree.