Stoney Orchard Growing Community – is a project with growing food and wildness at its heart.
Vision and energy have transformed a bare field, originally a 13-acre site of horse grazing pasture with a strip of woodland, into a resilient and sustainable landscape supporting increased biodiversity, resulting from a raised water table, increased soil fertility and sustainable land-use practices.
Further ambitions have been and will continue, to enable local people, especially those on the margins, to learn about land management, organic food growing and food security, and offer increased well-being for people through outdoor connection to self, others, and the environment.
Several projects have been completed at the site since receiving the CPF grant. The water table has been raised, hedges and trees have been planted, brambles cleared, ponds and swales constructed and fencing repaired. Also, a new multi-functional space will serve as an observation hide; wash-up/solar shower and teenage/relaxation space.
Each of these improvements has enriched the land and the experiences of those involved with the initiative, whilst engaging the local community with various workshops, such as composting and reptiles, wild honey and bees; cleft gate making, hedge laying, tree planting and insulation with natural materials, which are ongoing.