School children, local residents and members of Robert Owen Communities braved the icy conditions on Saturday to plant for the future at Boscawen Farm during The Tree Council’s National Tree Week.

With the help of a grant from The Tree Council, the lead UK tree campaigning partnership, they planted fifteen apples trees, many of them Cornish varieties of apple tree. With names like Cornish Aromatic, Manaccan Primrose, The Rattler and Tregonna King the trees were supplied by Duchy of Cornwall Nursery near Lostwithiel.

Local horticultural expert Andrew Tompsett has been advising the team at the farm on the plans for the new orchard to ensure the trees get the best possible start. Members of the local community were invited to help with the planting and to follow up with visits to monitor the growth of the trees.

‘With threats to the future on all sides, the actions of Boscawen Farm will be an important part of the much bigger picture of safeguarding the environment. 2010 is International Year of Biodiversity and personally, I can’t think of a better way of celebrating, supporting, promoting and valuing biodiversity than planting a tree’ said Tree Council’s Director-General, Pauline Buchanan Black.

The farm, which is a day opportunities site for adults with learning disabilities run by registered charity Robert Owen Communities, is one of 65 schools and 40 community groups to share in grants totalling more than £55,000. Farm Manager, Debbie Evans commented;

‘We are tremendously grateful to The Tree Council for this funding and also to Andrew for his advice. The orchard will be an important addition to the farm. It will be used to provide training and work experience in orchard management and will hopefully be producing fruit that we can sell in the farm shop in a few years time.’

The helpers were rewarded for their hard work with tastings of apple juice and cider from Cornish Orchards and spiced apple muffins made at the farm.

Boscawen Farm is located just off the A30 between Chacewater and Blackwater for more details ring 01872 560530 or email boscawen@roc-uk.org Further information about the Tree Council and National Tree Week can be found on www.treecouncil.org.uk