Heritage Orchard

Background

 
Penwortham Holme West Allotment site whilst officially in South Ribble, is owned by Preston CityCouncil. During the last 18 months the Association has received grants from various organisations to improve both the appearance and security of the site with the erection of new fencing, a new gate ordered and the clearance of a piece of land within the site, not suitable for growing vegetables, to create a Heritage Fruit Orchard. By doing this we hope to preserve old varieties of apples and pears, no longer commercially available, that were at one time grown extensively in orchards in the North West of England.

We are very pleased that the Mayors of South Ribble, Preston and Penwortham and also the Country Side officer from the Green Partnership Award Scheme were able to come along on the 9th March to plant a fruit tree. There have been allotments on this site for over 90 years but historically the site has played a great part in Lancashire history, in the 18th and 19th century it was one of three racecourses in the Preston area. In 1898 The Greatest Show on Earth took place on the Holme when three circuses owned by Barnum and Bailey set up on site, on the 11th and 12th of August, and in 1904 William "Buffalo Bill" Cody staged his Wild West Show.

Tree Planting Ceremony Photographs

Working Party Photographs