Community Orchard and Dog Walking Area

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The Community Orchard

In 2020 we started the creation of a community orchard in Swimbridge.   In years past, there was an old orchard here.  Sadly only two of those trees remained in 2020. They have been joined by a collection of mostly traditional Devon varieties and Mazzards - the North Devon cherry. 

 

All the trees have been sponsored by local people and the project is supported by North Devon Biosphere Reserve, Orchards Live, Swimbridge Parish Council and Swimbridge Parklands Committee.

 

Farmer's Glory   

This is a vigorous Devonshire apple tree variety that can be eaten or cooked. It has a sharp quality that becomes sweeter as it ripens.

 

Kidd’s Orange Red  

This variety produces sweet, crisp and aromatic fruit. It makes an excellent juice and has attractive blossom in the spring. The original tree was discovered in New Zealand during the 1920’s, and it is thought that one of its parents is Cox's Orange Pippin. It requires plenty of sunshine for its full flavours to develop, so is really better suited to growing in the southern counties of England.

 

Peter Lock   

This apple tree is perfect as a dual purpose eating and cooking apple. When eaten fresh the apple is sweet and subtly scented and when cooked it produces a smooth very sweet bright gold puree. The apples are large and green with a red flush. It originates from Buckfastleigh in Devon in the early 19th century.

 

Pitmaster Pineapple   

It is small in size but not in taste.  A richly flavoured apple with an overall sweet-sharp characteristic, boasting nutty, honey overtones and the distinctive pineapple flavour after which it is named. The apples are golden with dots of russet. The fruit is small and sweet enough for children to enjoy.   Originally from Hereford, it dates back to the late 18th century, and remains a popular and highly regarded choice.

 

Red Sentinel  

One of the most ornamental crab apple varieties, bearing pink-white flowers in late spring, followed by masses of glossy, round, red fruit. The fruits remain on the branches throughout autumn and winter, complementing the autumnal shades of the leaves before falling. It provides year round interest.

 

Tydecombe Seedling  

This is a lovely apple originally from Arlington, North Devon.  In 1978 it was rediscovered by Kevin Croucher of Thornhayes Nursery.  It is a richly flavoured, sweet dessert apple, which is ready from late September to late October.  It is disease resistant and prolific flowering.

 

Woolbrook Pippin 

This is a lovely mid/late season dessert apple, introduced in 1903 by Stevens & Son at Woolbrook Nursery, Sidmouth, Devon.  It received an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1929.  The apples are firm and crisp with a sweet, slightly acid and aromatic flavour - not unlike a Cox's Orange Pippin. It is a pretty healthy tree, good for the West Country, and crops are heavy and regular.

 

Mazzard Green Stem Black  

This is a North Devon Mazzard - a Devon cherry, for want of an easy description.  It makes a large and healthy tree.  It has lovely black Mazzards, with a wine-gum like richness and sweet flavour.

 

Mazzard Small Black   

A North Devon Mazzard - a Devon dessert/culinary cherry from the Landkey area. Small Black is a sweet cherry, ready in July.  It is rich and delicious.

 

There are a couple of much older trees of unknown variety, one fallen and also a dessert apple donated in 2018.