Newquay Orchard at 7

The urban greenspace that has become a community sanctuary

As North Cornwall’s largest town, Newquay is blessed with beautiful beaches and fresh Atlantic air. It’s also lucky to have a seven-acre “urban greenspace” in Newquay Orchard, which has grown organically and exponentially since 2015 to offer everything from fresh produce and horticultural skills to a shared workspace, makers’ studio and community café.

Follow the espaliered walkway, and find yourself surrounded by Cornish apples, bees buzzing around lavender, vibrant poppies. The place just teems with life, and shouts its ethos from the rooftops: sustainability, healthy eating, field to fork.

Ultimately, it’s a sanctuary, a space to breathe and escape, with volunteering and education at its heart. More than 800 volunteers have passed through its gates, and in June, the orchard received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and the equivalent to an MBE.

On July 19, His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall dropped in to see how the project has evolved over the last seven years. The orchard was built on Duchy land and links “old” Newquay with the Duchy’s own recent development at Nansledan. The Duke munched on a tasty homegrown mangetout as he chatted with those harvesting the produce in An Lowarth – The Garden in Cornish.

It’s a long way from the boggy, disused field in which chief executive officer Luke Berkeley first met the Duke, armed with a big map and a big idea for the best community green space in the UK. Luke had studied ecology at university, but was frustrated by the focus on “doomsday predictions” and poor use of green urban spaces.

“The only course of action was to do something about it,” he tells me as we explore the extensive site, which is alive with play groups in the forest garden and carpenters in the craft workshop.

The ramshackle shed has been replaced by Kowel Gwenen, a hi-tech and comfortable community building housing the orchard HQ as well as a co-working space and a café using produce grown on site to feed 34 employees and 150 volunteers. “It’s not a small operation anymore,” Luke agrees. “There are six enterprises under one umbrella – but our ethos still underpins everything we do.”

The market garden is at the very heart of the orchard’s raison d’etre. Volunteers sow, tend and harvest the food to be prepared and served in Canteen at the Orchard, built during lockdown as a community café and still going strong. Food miles are measured in metres, and the goal is to be carbon negative this year. “It’s a model to show what you can do with seven acres.”

This formed a huge part of the orchard’s appeal during the pandemic, when people realised they needed nature and flocked to get involved – there’s now a waiting list for volunteers. “People come here when they need us, and we see them grow. Lifelong friends are made in this place.” These include orchard ambassador Rory, who has grown in confidence and now has a parttime job thanks to his experience here. The space has also been a boon for external businesses, from touring theatre companies (see Shakespeare on the terraces in August) to yoga, dance and family bushcraft activities – Imagine Outdoors launched during the pandemic and now employs five people.

In July, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) veg box pilot scheme was launched. Grown By Newquay Orchard enables 45 local households to share in weekly fresh produce from Fentenfenna Farm in Ruthvoes, near St Columb Major, while young people will get the opportunity to learn horticultural skills.

When considering what the orchard has achieved, Luke speaks of a “palpable pride” in the community. “I’m really, really proud of everyone who has been involved. When we hear people talking about their experiences here, it’s very emotional – there is no bigger compliment.” l

Newquay Orchard, Yeoman Way, Newquay TR7 2SL. Tel 01637 877182 www.newquayorchard.co.uk

Events in August and September: • August 16 & 17: Miracle Theatre

King Lear • August 21: Duke Theatre

A Midsummer Night’s Dream • August 22: Mary Lattimore – Harpist • September 17: Newquay Orchard Fayre • September 20: Horticulture masterclass

Winter pruning, tidying, mulching and composting. £50pp - includes materials and lunch.