The Astral Park Community Orchard is located on scrub land at the end of Middleton Way, adjoining Stanbridge Meadows. You can reach it by walking across the field from the Astral Park Community and Sports Centre at the end of Johnson Drive.
One of our members, Roy Walker, was the leading force in establishing the orchard, which is probably the first orchard to be planted in Leighton Buzzard for generations. “The idea for a community orchard started at a South Beds Friends of the Earth meeting in March 2011 and grew to become the Astral Park Community Orchard when the fruit trees were planted in December 2011 with the help of volunteers, of all ages, from local residents.”
Aims of the site
The principal aims of Astral Park Community Orchard are to provide an environmental asset that’s accessible to the community at all times, revive an interest in fruit growing, conserve local varieties, provide a refuge for wildlife and be a venue for education about the environment, nature and food.
In December 2011 we planted 14 English fruit trees – most of which are native to Bedfordshire. This was after a consultation with local residents, organised by the Southern Residents Forum. Leighton Linslade Town Council granted permission to plant, and the Greensand Trust provided the initial funding of £500 and carried out an initial ecological survey. Thanks to a £50 grant from the Town Council, we planted wildflowers including knapweed, with Leedon Lower School in spring 2012, which supports Marbled White butterflies.
Planting native Bedfordshire fruit trees
The fruit trees have overlapping blossoming times to provide successive nectar for bees, give a longer harvesting period, and offer a variety of flavours.
The 14 trees in the orchard are:
- 2 x Black Worcester pear trees – a heritage variety that can live for 300 years
- 2 x Royal Jubilee apple trees and 1 x Jubilee Plum – grafted from the root stock of an apple variety grown for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee
- 1 x Aylesbury Prune – a damson that used to be extensively grown in the area for jam making. The skins were apparently used to dye RAF uniforms in WWII and hats in the Luton hat trade
- 1 x Laxtons Rearguard – a Bedfordshire native apple
- 1 x Laxtons Fortune – a Bedfordshire native apple
- 1 x Laxtons Superb – a Bedfordshire native apple
- 1 x Laxtons Epicure – a Bedfordshire native apple
- 1 x Court of Wick – a Bedfordshire native apple
- 1 x Beauty of Bath – known as ‘the scrumping apple’ as it’s in season during school summer holidays before most other apples
- 1 x Allington Pippin apple tree
- 1 x Annie Elizabeth apple tree
Managing the site
The orchard is generally managed for flowers and for wildlife. As well as planting the 14 trees, we agreed to manage the area in a way that supported wildlife with the Greensand Trust and the Town Council. The fruit trees were planted amongst hawthorn trees and brambles as they support hundreds of insects, pollinators, and are good for birds too.
We leave grass long in some areas so there’s space for hibernation and nesting of pollinators and other insects.
Working with local residents and our volunteers, we scythe part of the area in late September. We’re experimenting with some spring cuts and raking off the grass to reduce soil fertility, which will encourage more wildflowers. Since we’ve been doing this we’ve noticed an increase in the agrimony, hedge parsley, vetch and clover. The generally wild appearance of the orchard area has helped protect the apple trees from vandalism.
Community events at the orchard
We’ve held a number of events related to the orchard, including an awareness day in July 2016 as part of the Jamie Rhythm of Life Fundraiser with the Community House; wildlife surveys; an orchard workday to learn how to scythe the grass; an Apple Day stall on Leighton Buzzard market; Wassailing ceremonies in January 2017, 2018 and 2023, and pruning sessions.
You can follow for updates about Astral Park Community Orchard on Facebook.
Keep an eye on our events page for more information about upcoming work parties or awareness days.