Dartmouth Community Orchard
conservation, protection and enhancement of one of Dartmouth's hidden gems
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Welcome to Dartmouth Community Orchard. It sits between College Way (the main road into the town) and Ridge Hill / Mount Boone. The two orchard paddocks are linked by old woodland to form an unspoiled, rural area on the edge of Dartmouth. It is owned by the Town Council.
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The paddocks contain approximately 150 apple trees of over 60 different varieties of traditional West Country apples, and the whole area is rich in biodiversity.
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People come for quiet contemplation; to walk their dogs; to sit and admire the views over the Dart; or to watch the wildlife. They can enjoy the events held in spring to celebrate the reawakening of the orchard with its fine show of blossom and spring-time flowers, and in autumn to harvest the apples and make juice and cider.
History of the Orchard
1) A historic orchard dating back at least as far back as 1840 when it was recorded as an orchard in the 1840 Tithe Records. Tithe Map of Townstal, Coombe Area, 1840 Courtesy of DHRG 100130.
2) Recorded to be an orchard as part of the Raleigh Estate 1872. Deed of Arrangement between Sir JH Seale and JW Watts 8th April 1872, Courtesy of Mrs S Green, Raleigh Estates.
3) Orchard included in the grounds purchased from Raleigh estate in 1898 for the building of Britannia Royal Naval College under the Defence Act of 1842. Britannia Royal Naval College 1905-2005: A Century of Officer Training at Dartmouth. Published by Richard Webb, Dartmouth 2005. Authors Dr Jane Harrold and Dr Richard Porter. Map of BRNC, surveyed and drawn by S Blencowe, Superintendent Civil Engineer, 1905, Courtesy of Dr. Richard Porter.
4) Orchard separated from the rest of BRNC by the building of College Way 1969. Dartmouth Through Time, by Ginny Campbell, published by Amberley, Stroud, 2014.
5) Purchased from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by Dartmouth Town Council for £15,000 on 23 December 1993 on the basis that the permitted use of the Orchard is deemed to be an orchard designated as open space or gardens. Land Registry Title Number DN338846 and Transfer dated 23 December 1993 made between (1) The Secretary of State for Defence and (2) Dartmouth Town Council.
6) Registered as a village green under the Commons act 2006 section15(8) on 2nd November 2021.
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Arial view of the orchard
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Map of the orchard
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Summer Update 2025
We trust you are all enjoying seeing the primroses and daffodils, giving us hope that spring and warmer drier weather are close.
The work parties have continued to be busy, pruning some of the trees (including one large older tree that was blown down in a storm) and also still reducing the heliotrope. If you have visited the Orchard you might have noticed some of the ‘prunings’ added to various wood piles for wildlife habitat.
We were also very grateful for the assistance from BRNC cadets who came to help and reduced our ‘to do’ list.
There has now been an additional ‘dog poo bin’ installed at the College Way entrance so there is no excuse!!!
The new pathway, installed to make the Orchard more accessible for less mobile visitors has received some very positive feedback. More of the pathways are due for improvement, and it is hoped that this will happen from the end of February. Notices will be erected warning of any works whilst this is in progress. The paths are to be improved to match the new pathway off College Way. This is to remedy trip and fall hazards where the original pathway has worn and will become dangerous if not repaired.
The fencing round one of the ponds is also due to be installed soon. This should deter dogs from entering the water, as any flea treatment causes significant harm to the pondlife. It is also the time of year when frogs, toads and newts need to access the water to spawn. Hopefully you might see some frogspawn or tadpoles in the near future.
The bees are still quite quiet as the weather has not enticed them out much. Too wet and cold. I think we can sympathise/empathise with them !
We are hoping to hold a spring social event in the orchard; coffee and cake, so do look out for further information. It is hoped that this will take place around 11.00am after the last work party on 6 April. Everyone is welcome to come to the Ridge Hill entrance to join us for this friendly gathering.
The FODCO AGM will take place in Dartmouth Yacht Club, at 6.00 on Wednesday 30 April. All are welcome.
Kind regards
Lee Thorneywork (Secretary) March 2025
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Spring Update 2025
We trust you are all enjoying seeing the primroses and daffodils, giving us hope that spring and warmer drier weather are close.
The work parties have continued to be busy, pruning some of the trees (including one large older tree that was blown down in a storm) and also still reducing the heliotrope. If you have visited the Orchard you might have noticed some of the ‘prunings’ added to various wood piles for wildlife habitat.
We were also very grateful for the assistance from BRNC cadets who came to help and reduced our ‘to do’ list.
There has now been an additional ‘dog poo bin’ installed at the College Way entrance so there is no excuse!!!
The new pathway, installed to make the Orchard more accessible for less mobile visitors has received some very positive feedback. More of the pathways are due for improvement, and it is hoped that this will happen from the end of February. Notices will be erected warning of any works whilst this is in progress. The paths are to be improved to match the new pathway off College Way. This is to remedy trip and fall hazards where the original pathway has worn and will become dangerous if not repaired.
The fencing round one of the ponds is also due to be installed soon. This should deter dogs from entering the water, as any flea treatment causes significant harm to the pondlife. It is also the time of year when frogs, toads and newts need to access the water to spawn. Hopefully you might see some frogspawn or tadpoles in the near future.
The bees are still quite quiet as the weather has not enticed them out much. Too wet and cold. I think we can sympathise/empathise with them !
We are hoping to hold a spring social event in the orchard; coffee and cake, so do look out for further information. It is hoped that this will take place around 11.00am after the last work party on 6 April. Everyone is welcome to come to the Ridge Hill entrance to join us for this friendly gathering.
The FODCO AGM will take place in Dartmouth Yacht Club, at 6.00 on Wednesday 30 April. All are welcome.
Kind regards
Lee Thorneywork (Secretary) March 2025
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