As part of last week’s National Tree Week, our Rangers were busy planting our ‘Avallan Rubi / Ruby Orchard’ project with the help of local schoolchildren and volunteers at Duloe Stone Circle.
The project saw 16 Cornish Heritage apple trees and 110m of native hedgerow planted at the north east end of the field, where the monument stands.
It was made possible by a grant of £5,423.55 from Cornwall Council’s Forest for Cornwall Programme and a grant of £1,457 from Cornwall Community Foundation through the Caradon Area Community Fund. We’re hugely grateful for their support!
The orchard includes a wide range of Cornish Heritage varieties, including Ben’s Red, Cornish Queen, Manaccan Primrose, Hocking’s Green, Cornish Aromatic, Cornish Pine, Tregonna King and Cornish Gilliflower.
The hedgerow contains Hawthorn, Hazel, Elder, Blackthorn, Holly, Dog Rose, Guelder Rose, Dogwood, Field Maple and Oak.
The project aims to increase biodiversity on the site and produce apple crops which the charity will use at its annual Allantide events. Considered by many to be Cornwall’s answer to Halloween, Allantide is a traditional festival which has a strong focus on apples as symbols of good luck, divination and community.
The planting involved Cornwall Heritage Trust’s Ranger team and volunteers, as well as children from Duloe Primary Academy, who took part in a special tree planting day with our Education and Outreach Manager, Caroline.
This included a classroom-based workshop in the morning, followed by a busy afternoon of tree planting.
Here is what the teachers said…
“The workshop was brilliant; it was informative and really captured the children’s attention.”
“The students really enjoyed the workshop in the morning. Their favourite part was the planting in the afternoon. As it is so local to us, they look forward to seeing the trees grow in the future.”
“It was a wonderful day of history, creativity, and hands-on conservation!”
Located at the southern end of the village of Duloe, between Liskeard and Looe, Duloe Stone Circle is Cornwall’s smallest known stone circle and the only Cornish monument of its kind to be constructed entirely from white quartz.
It is one of 18 historic sites which are cared for by the charity and is completely free for everyone to visit all year round.
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