A GROUP of volunteers got together to plant a community orchard of twenty fruit trees on Abbotts Ann Green on Saturday (March 26).

This was possible thanks to the support of individual donations from the community and a TVBC Community Grant sponsored by TVBC Cllr Maureen Flood.

Abbotts Ann Parish Council had agreed that the orchard should be planted in time for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

SEE ALSO: Planting underway at Haydown Link tree avenue in East Cholderton

The Green had been a former school playing field. In 2014 the new school was built and Hampshire County Council decided that rather than sell the land to developers, they would lease the green space to Abbotts Ann Parish Council for £1 a year for the benefit of villagers and to provide a 'green lung' for the village.

Parish councillor Anne Jones, responsible for running the community project, said: “The orchard, consisting of apple, pear and plum trees, will be a lasting commemoration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and will enhance the Green as a community space.”

“The Parish Council has already provided some improvements and I hope that the orchard will be a source of enjoyment for many in the years to come.”

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