Orchard of remembrance for Covid dead of St John's

Cllr Richard Udall said, once completed, the community orchard in Coles Meadow next to Soltaire Avenue, St John's, Worcester would bear fruit in a literal and symbolic sense for future generations following the pandemic.

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The Labour and Co-operative councillor, who represents St John's for both the city and county council, said the orchard will have 10 cherry trees and 20 other mixed apples and fruit trees all to be planted across the meadow.

MISSION: Cllr Richard Udall hopes the community orchard in Coles Meadow, adjacent to Solitaire Avenue, will provide a way to remember those who have gone but bloom into a lasting symbol of hope after what has been a tough time for the people of the city

He said: “St John’s Councillors will be working with Worcester City Council and the Friends of Laugherne Brook Nature Reserve, to create a new community orchard on Coles Meadow, adjacent to Solitaire Avenue.

"It will consist of ten cherry trees and twenty other mixed apples and fruit trees, all to be planted across the Meadow, which at one time long before the houses were built, was once a Market Garden. We are bringing back local Worcester varieties such as Pitmaston Pineapple and Worcester Pearmain trees, back to St John’s."

ORCHARD: Coles Meadow off Soltaire Avenue. Photo: Cllr Richard Udall (via Twitter)

The project has been funded from the city council Covid Recovery Fund and from Cllr Udall's own St John’s Divisional Fund.

He added: "We want the orchard to be a permanent and a living memorial to remember and recognise the lives and efforts of all St John’s residents affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It will be symbolic of new life and new beginnings and also remembering with love and affection all the people who we lost, it will also stand as a huge thank you to all the essential workers who kept our community running and helped so many local people. It will offer fruit for future generations to enjoy and will help to sustain and support local wildlife.

"The last few years have been difficult, but we hope the trees will help to allow us to not only remember those who we have lost, but to look to the future with new hope”.

The orchard will be planted in the Autumn.