Sixteen heritage fruit trees have been planted at a new Community Orchard site at Blackweir in Bute Park, including the ‘Apple Tree Man’ which is the traditional name given to the oldest apple tree in an Orchard.
Bute Park’s ‘Apple Tree Man’ is a Gower apple tree with mistletoe, which was planted alongside four other heritage apple varieties, as Cardiff Council’s ‘Coed Caerdydd’ urban forest project hosted local residents and members of the New Friends of Bute Park at the new orchard site on Saturday (24 February).
A range of different pear trees, cherries, plums, greengages, and damsons were also planted. Beneath the trees, wildflowers will also be grown, creating a biodiverse, colourful and inviting space for visitors to the park to enjoy.
The idea for the orchard was developed by the community in 2021, as a positive response to serious vandalism that left many trees in the park damaged.
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “The continued growth of the community orchard project in Bute Park really shows Cardiff at its best, coming together to respond positively to difficult times. I’m delighted that we have been able to work with the community and support the orchard’s development through our Coed Caerdydd tree planting project.”
Melissa Boothman, Chair of the Community Orchard for Bute Park Trust, said: “This is an amazing day for Bute Park and the community. When Bute Park was first designed and laid out in the late 1800s by the Head Gardener, Andrew Pettigrew, it included an orchard which has been lost over time.
“Today is the first step in creating a community orchard for all who treasure and visit this Park.
“On behalf of the Trust I’d like to thank our volunteers, the community for their ideas and encouragement, and also to recognise the support from Cardiff Council, the team here at Bute Park, Coed Caerdydd and Cardiff Local Nature Partnership who all work closely with us.”
A smaller orchard site, close to the Bute Park Visitor Centre, was planted during the last planting season and further planting at the main Blackweir site will continue in the next planting season.
