Like most small towns and villages, Potton used to be surrounded by small orchards, but these have been lost over time. Community orchards evolved in the 1990s following work by Common Ground to re-connect people with local food, to preserve their special habitat and bring forgotten fruit varieties back from the brink.

Consultation over a couple of years at our local apple day helped form the idea of a new community orchard in Potton. Feedback told us that we should include a range of fruit trees of local and heritage varieties, so residents have access to quality fruit unavailable in the shops.

As well as fruit production, residents wanted a welcoming, relaxing and natural space to complement the other public parks in Potton. A lot of work has gone in to making it a nature-rich space and our aim is to show that people, wildlife and food production are happy bedfellows.

The orchard is an open space and visitors are welcome at any time. There is information about which fruit is ripe throughout the year and you are welcome to take a few apples for your own use.

The site is behind the Tall Trees development and next to the Potton Hall for All, Hutchinson Rise SG19 2DZ. See location map here. what3words ///proclaims.masters.repelled

Find out more about the orchard, its fruit trees, wildlife and other activities here.