2024
Severn Waste Services and Vale Landscape Heritage Trust -
celebrating 20 years of working in partnership.
Delivering nature and heritage conservation projects around the Vale of Evesham and Pershore, leaving a living legacy to benefit wildlife and people.
This page will be updated through the year with articles and photos.
Another piece of the Vale's heritage saved thanks to Severn Waste Services and the LCFIn March 2024 we were able to secure the future of Atch Lench Heritage Orchard, a lovely old plum orchard.
This site is one of the very few remaining plum orchards dating back to a time when the hillsides all across the Vale of Evesham were covered in plum orchards. As well as being an important heritage site, the old trees are known to be home to the rare and elusive Noble Chafer beetle. |
Atch Lench Heritage Orchard, home to the Noble Chafer
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Celebration Tree Planting - Leaving a Living Legacy
Planting 20 fruit trees to celebrate 20 years of partnership-working.
Cllr Richard Morris and Jim Haywood (SWS) planting a Red Blenheim apple tree
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1 & 2. Our Celebration fruit tree planting got underway on Monday 15th January 2024. We were joined at Naunton Court Orchard by a few Vale Landscape Heritage Trust Trustees along with Councillor Richard Morris, Councillor Linda Robinson, Councillor Rob Adams, Councillor Anne Howarth and Jim Haywood from Severn Waste Services. They came along to plant a Red Blenheim apple tree to add to our Worcestershire Apple Collection, and a very rare Littleton Late Treacle pear tree; grown from a graft of the only known example of this variety of fruit tree. |
VLHT Trustees Tony Strickland, Judith Ciotti & Bob Gillmor with Cllr Rob Adams, Cllr Richard Morris, Jim Haywood, Cllr Linda Robinson and Cllr Anne Howarth planting a Littleton Late Treacle pear tree
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Cllr Robert Raphael and Cllr Linda Robinson completing our Worcestershire Apple Collection with a second Red Blenheim
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www.wychavon.gov.uk/about-wychavon-district-council/wychavons-50th-anniversary
3. The sun continued to shine on Tuesday 16th January 2024 for a visit from Councillor Robert Raphael marking joint celebrations; VLHT's 25th Year and our 20th year of partnership working with Severn Waste Services, as well as Wychavon's 50th Anniversary. Cllr Raphael was joined by Councillor Linda Robinson to plant a second Blenheim Red apple tree, completing our Worcestershire Apple Collection at Naunton Court Orchard. |
Emily Croft from Groundwork and our intern Amy Fleming planting a Shropshire prune damson at Mill Bank Meadows
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4 & 5. Two more celebration trees planted. This time at Mill Bank Meadows on Wednesday 31st January 2024.
Emily Croft from Groundwork, the organisation following up on our successful Aviva Wild Isles scheme joined a volunteer work party and planted a Shropshire Prune damson. Some of our own wonderful volunteers then planted a Merryweather damson at the same site. Damsons were traditionally planted in hedgerows or along water-courses so these trees should grow well in the floodplain. |
A few of our wonderful volunteers planting a Merryweather damson at Mill Bank Meadows
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Members of West Midlands Butterfly Conservation planting a Sweet Damson at Haines Meadows
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6. Members of West Midlands Butterfly Conservation Trust joined us on a bright but cold day on 1st February. They had come to Haines Meadows to search for Brown Hairstreak eggs (which they found good numbers of) and to plant a celebration Sweet Damson tree. Brown Hairstreak is a very fussy butterfly which lays its eggs on Blackthorn and also other Prunus species such as Damson, so hopefully the Haines Hairstreaks will find this celebration tree at some point in the future. |
Brown Hairstreak Butterfly on Blackthorn
Brown Hairstreak egg
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Councillor Richard Grantham, Mayor of Pershore and Gary Farmer, Manager of VLHT planting a Dabinett apple tree at Stocken.
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7 & 8. Two Dabinett Apple trees planted at Stocken Orchard. This orchard was originally planted in the1970s to supply cider apples to Bulmers and was purchased by VLHT in 2014. On 7th February 2024 we were joined by the Mayor of Pershore, Cllr Richard Grantham to plant the first of the celebration Dabinett apple trees. The second tree was planted by Colin Raven, Director at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, along with Trustee Bob Gillmor and President of WWT Harry Green. They were also joined by Richard Toft of Pershore College. Richard produces award-winning craft ciders at Pershore Press using apples from Stocken. |
Harry Green (President of WWT), Colin Raven (Director at WWT) and Richard Toft from Pershore Press planting a Dabinett apple tree at Stocken.
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John Edgley planting a Hendre Huffcap perry Pear tree with Councillor Hannah Robson and Councillor Judith Ciotti.
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9 & 10. Two 'Valentine' Perry Pear trees planted at North Littleton.
On 14th February District Councillors for Honeybourne, Pebworth & The Littletons, Cllr Judith Ciotti and Cllr Hannah Robson joined one of our long serving volunteers John Edgeley to plant a Hendre Huffcap perry pear tree at North Littleton Community Orchard. On the same day members of RSPB Malvern & Worcester Group planted a Butt perry pear tree at North Littleton. The group help us with our winter farmland bird feeding scheme helping some of our declining feathered friends to survive a period of little natural food. |
Rick Geeson, Phil Hitchen, Jeanne Vitkovskis and Mai Gees from RSPB planting a Butt Perry Pear tree at North Littleton.
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11, 12 & 13. The Littletons School planted three crab apple trees to celebrate VLHT's 20 year partnership
with Severn Waste Services.
Ben Rees-Roberts from VLHT planting a crab apple tree with children from The Littletons School
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On 1st March three crab apple trees were planted by children from the Littletons School as part of our 20 trees for 20 years celebations. The children planted a Red Sentinal, a Butterball and a John Downie.
These small trees will produce a mass of blossom in spring, providing food for pollinators, followed by colourful small fruits which will provide food for birds in winter. |
Three crab apple trees being planted by children from
The Littletons School
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Councillor Julie Tucker with Karen Humphries and Wade Muggleton planting an Early Prolific Plum tree at Hampton Orchard
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14. An Early Prolific Plum tree planted at Hampton Orchard, where it all began.
When VLHT was in its infancy, Wade Muggleton from Worcestershire County Council secured a grant which allowed the Trust to rent Hampton Orchard (under the Evesham Custom). This led to publicity which started our 20 year partnership with Severn Waste Services. So on 6th March 2024 it was very fitting for Wade to return to the orchard where it all began to plant a celebration Early Prolific Plum tree. He was joined by Evesham Town Councillor Julie Tucker, and Karen Humphries from Malvern Hills National Landscape Partnership. Karen was the lead officer for the Three Counties Traditional Orchard Project, a Lottery-funded project which ran for seven years, promoting orchards in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. |
15. Judge Amphlett pear tree planted by South Littleton Parish Council
Cllr Helen Quigley-York, Parish Councillor, South Littleton and her husband Peter York, with Cllr Judith Ciotti planting a Judge Amphlett pear at South Littleton.
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A Judge Amphlett pear tree was planted by South Littleton Parish Coucil on 7th March to celebrate VLHT's 20 year partnership with Severn Waste Services. The tree was planted near the Littetons Brook as part of the Parish Council's scheme to increase the blossom in the area. Since the 1950's Worcestershire has lost around 85% of its orchards, so schemes like this will help bring back the blossom to the area. Helen Quigley-York, Parish Councillor, South Littleton and her husband Peter York, joined District Councillor (and VLHT trustee) Judith Ciotti to plant the tree. The Judge AMphlett pear originates from Worcetershire in the 20th century by Long Ashton Research Station. Named after the famous Worcestershire Court Judge. |
VLHT trustees Tony Strickland, Phil Hooper, Jim Haywood, Judith Ciotti and Colin Grove planting a Moorcroft pear at NLCO on Saturday 9th March.
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16. Moorcroft pear tree planted by VLHT trustees at North Littleton Community Orchard
On a particularly cold and windy day, VLHT trustees planted a Moorcroft pear tree at North Littleton Community Orchard. This is one of three perry pear trees planted at the highest point on the site and will grow to be a fine, tall tree in years to come as a reminder of the successful partnership between VLHT and Severn Waste Services. Vale Landscape Heritage Trust are also celebrating 25 years as a charity in 2024 so this tree had extra significance. |
17. Michaelmas Damson planted at Naunton Court Orchard, dedicated to one of the original directors of Severn Waste Services
Cody Levine and Becky Lashley planting a Michaelmas Damson tree at Naunton Court Orchard.
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A Michaelmas Damson tree was planted at Naunton Court Orchard on 13th March. This is the first damson to be planted in our beautiful old orchard and will increase the blossom time. This is important for pollinating insects as there can often be long gaps in available pollen and nectar. The tree was planted by Cody Levine Team Leader (Ecology) and Becky Lashley Environmental Projects Officer, both from Worcestershire County Council. Cody and Becky are leading on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and were part of the team who put together the Worcestershire State of Nature Report 2023. The report highlights teh plight of the county's orchards, noting that orchards have declined by up to 85% in the Worcestershire so it was fitting that they were planting a new tree in an old orchard, helping to ensure the orchard continues to bloom for generations to come. The tree also had a special significance as Becky was joined by her family to dedicate the tree to the memory of her father John, who was one of the original Directors at Severn Waste Services. |
Staff and trustees from HoEF with staff and trustees from VLHT, planting a rare Littleton Treacle Pear tree in Sherriffs Lench
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18. A special celebration tree planted at Heart of England Forest's new orchard in Sherriffs Lench
On 15th March 2024 staff and trustees from Heart of England Forest (HoEF) and Vale Landscape Heritage Trust met at Sherriffs Lench to plant a rare Littleton Late Treacle pear tree at HoEF's new orchard. The only known mature tree survives in a private orchard in North Littleton and so cuttings were taken and grafted to grow new trees for planting at other sites. All too often in the past, fruit varieties have been lost so it was an ideal opportunity for the two organisations to come together to help save this unuasual pear. The new orchard was initiated by the Three Counties Traditional Orchard Project. This funded the first trees to be planted which HoEF have since added to, creating a new orchard very close to VLHT's old orchard at Hipton Hill. |
19. Plum Festival and Blossom Trail organiser Angela Taylor planted a Purple Pershore Plum tree at Hipton Hill in memory of Henry Sandon MBE
Angela Taylor planting the Henry Sandon Purple Pershore Plum tree at Hipton Hill Orchards19th March 2024.
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Angela Taylor has been the driving force behind the award winning Pershore Plum Festival for many years. She also organises the Blossom Trail, promoting the area's fruit-growing history.
So Angela joined us at Hipton Hill Orchards on 19th March to plant a Purple Pershore plum tree as one of our celebration trees. The tree was also planted to celebrate the life of Henry Sandon MBE. Henry was a great Plum Festival Ambassidor and a true supporter of all things Worcestershire. The Blossom Trail winds its way through the Vale of Evesham and surrounding area showcasing some of the best remaining blossom sights. VLHT's orchards are an important part of the trail. |
Henry Sandon MBE was a great friend and Ambassador of the Pershore Plum Festival. Image taken from Pershore Plum Festival Facebook page.
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20. The original trustees of VLHT planted a Farleigh Damson tree at our most recently purchased orchard near Atch Lench, and dedicated the tree to the memory of Dave Shaw.
Three of the original VLHT trustees were joined by Atch Lench Orchard management committe to plant a Farleigh Damson on 5th April 2024
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Three of the original trustees of VLHT who started the Trust 25 years ago came together to plant a Farleigh Damson tree at our newest site. One of these trustees, Colin Grove, is still an active trustee 25 years on!
The site is a traditional Plum Orchard located near Atch Lench and was purchased in 2024 thanks to support from Severn Waste Services through the Landfill Communities Fund. The trio of original VLHT trustees were joined by the previous owners/management committee for the orchard. The tree was dedicated to the memory of Dave Shaw, the original chairman of VLHT who sadly died in 2013. Dave was also one of the founders of the Pershore Plum Festival and was a Town Councillor for Pershore. This was the perfect way to end the celebration tree planting. Who would have thought 25 years ago that the idea of forming a group to protect some of the Vale's heritage would have bloomed into something so significant. With the purchase of the orchard at Atch Lench, VLHT now own and manage 19 sites across the Vale of Evesham and surrounding area, a living legacy made possible by 20 years of support from Severn Waste Services. |
