Guests included MP Dominic Raab, Blue Peter Gardener Chris Collins and the Mayor of Elmbridge. The project also has the backing of National Fruit Collection Brogdale Farm and The Royal Horticultural Society.
The native orchard education programme, being pioneered by Fourfront Group and Ashley Primary School, includes the planting and nurturing of trees, harvesting, cooking and composting of the apples. This structured education programme will become part of the school's educational curriculum and offers the children real hands-on learning. The programme will be portable so other businesses can do similar initiatives in their community.
Volunteers from Fourfront Group cleared and planted trees and also purchased 10,000 bees and soft fruit bushes. Ashley Primary School is the proud owner of the only orchard in the UK to have all 28 native Surrey apple varieties.
Dominic Raab, MP for Esher & Walton, says, "This is a fantastic project and a perfect example of bringing to life a local community project in a school. Ashley School and Fourfront Group have pioneered something special and I am looking forward to spreading the word."
