Celebrating Trinity’s new Orchard

Students, staff and Fellows celebrated the opening of Trinity’s new Orchard – a haven for members of the College community and wildlife, including insects that will pollinate the fruit trees.

The Master Dame Sally Davies said the Orchard, which is planted with 45 fruit trees – mostly East Anglian varieties – was a great addition to the College gardens and testimony to the foresight of the Gardens Team.

Former Head Gardener Tom Hooijenga proposed the Orchard in part to enhance biodiversity in the College gardens, where deer, badger, fox, vole, mice and of course squirrel have been spotted.

Since then, the gardeners have transformed the once overgrown area overlooking Burrell’s Field accommodation, creating not only the Orchard, but also a woodland walk criss-crossing Bin Brook. An old stone path and bridge uncovered during the work were restored.

With benches made by the carpenters from coppiced holly, and tree-trunk seats, the Orchard and woodland walks offer ideal contemplative spots and lookouts for kingfishers, eel or water vole, all seen here.

After the Choir sang several of Britten’s Five Flower Songs, Dame Sally thanked all those at Trinity who had made the Orchard and woodland walk possible.

President of the Trinity Ethical and Green Affairs Society, Olivia Lada Moczarski, welcomed the new Orchard and woodland walk, saying it offered students a chance to reconnect with nature, relax and recharge.

Head Gardener Karen Wells said:

We’re really proud of this tranquil area in the Fellows’ Garden – the team and everyone involved at Trinity has put a lot of work in. We will of course look after the fruit trees and as a friend of mine says, ‘let the garden take care of you.’

Photos: Graham CopeKoga / Trinity College.