Community Orchard

[Bob Jefferson]

From today's EN:



I may have been dismissive of some of PEDAL's more fanciful notions in the past, but I think this is an excellent idea and hopefully one that most local people will support. I also think that either of the sites proposed would be eminently suitable. I'm assuming that the site proposed at Rosefield Park is the old tennis courts. Something for Brighton and Rosefield Residents Association to discuss at their forthcoming AGM.

[Maria]

It will certainly be interesting to discuss this at our AGM next Tuesday. I don't have a strong opinion one way or another. Brighton Park already contains several pear (or quince?) trees though I don't recollect ever seeing anyone pick the fruit. The blossom in the Spring, however, is quite beautiful.

Windfall fruit left to rot may attract lots of wasps, flies etc. PEDAL say their members will tend the trees, but this will necessitate a very long term commitment and the group hasn't been established that long.

[wangi]

I just don't "get" PEDAL. They certainly know how to get their schemes into the press, but then...

They seem to come up with schemes that they could just do anyway off their own back. Want to buy a pub and turn it into a touchy-feely community pub? No problem just buy/rent one - there are plenty to pick from. Want to plant some fruit trees? No problem, get a plot.

They seem to publicise things just for them to just disappear. Come up with your idea, do the leg work, get things in place, and then create the interest etc.

[Bob Jefferson]

Yeah, fair enough - we should judge them on what they actually deliver. Let's face it, the EN will print any old rubbish, and I should know.

But at least this time, they have come up with an idea that is achievable. It certainly sounds more likely than the 'community' pub, the wind turbines or the giant chickens (OK, maybe the drawing wasn't to scale).

I'm trying hard to be positive about this. God knows we need something to rally around.