Southend Community Orchard Workshops

by Matt King in Southend-on-Sea, England, United Kingdom

We did it
On 15th June 2023 we successfully raised £5,301 ( + est. £171.25 Gift Aid ) with 66 supporters in 42 days

Regular nature and maintenance workshops at the 100 year old St Laurence Community Orchard for local people and families.

by Matt King in Southend-on-Sea, England, United Kingdom

Quadruple Your Donation Now!

For every £1 you donate (up to £250), a further £3 will be added, enabling us to help many more people! We want to provide workshops, nature engagement sessions and environmental activities at St Laurence Orchard. Can you help?

About St Laurence Orchard

St Laurence Community Orchard, at the end of Southend Airport runway,  is more than 100 years old and provides an amazing diverse habitat and learning environment. 

Trust Links has been managing the Orchard for more than 15 years, maintaining the original trees and planting new ones, as well as creating habitats for nature. We have an amazing crop of apples, plums and blackberries each Autumn. 

1683213848_1683213846100.png

We want to open the Orchard up to more people

We love the community to come along to and be involved in St Laurence Orchard. In January we hold a Wassailing celebration to wake the trees up for the Spring. In April blossom day sees the buds emerging on the trees. In October we enjoy the harvest at Apple Day. Throughout the Spring, Summer and Autumn we hold regular work parties to connect people to the Orchard and help maintain the Orchard so that it is accessible and the trees are cared for.

We have recently installed a composting toilet, classroom and toolstore on the adjacent meadow. 

Can you help us help more people?

We need funding to hold regular workshops with children, families, and community members, so that people can learn about the Orchard, develop wildlife habitats, build skills around growing and harvesting fruit,  help with the maintenance of the Orchard, and engage with this rare and precious environment. 

We need your help to make it possible for us to save this vital habitat and improve our community's wellbeing. Please donate today!

1683214044_orchard_picking.jpg

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation.

£50 or more

£50 Reward: Name on Donor Plaque

We will be putting up a donor plaque in the classroom at the Orchard and we would love to have your name on it (if you would like to be on it!)

£10 or more

£10 Reward: Orchard map & thank you card

Trust Links will send you a unique Orchard map and thank you card to acknowledge your donation to this project

£25 or more

£25 Reward: Orchard Hamper

You will receive a bespoke St Laurence Orchard hamper at Apple Day on 7th October 2023 (or for collection after that date)

£75 or more

£75 Reward: Orchard picnic

Enjoy an Orchard picnic for you and your family/friends (max. 6 people) with sandwiches, cakes, tea/coffee and a wonderful chance to have a guided tour of the Orchard

£100 or more

£100 Reward: Exclusive access to special Workshop

A donation of £100 will entitle 2 people to access an exclusive workshop at St Laurence Orchard. We will be running workshops on natural dyeing using things foraged from the Orchard; a meditative labyrinth workshop in the Orchard Meadow; and a Foraging workshop.

£250 or more

£250 Reward: Team Building Workshop

Trust Links will run a team building workshop for you and your team at St Laurence Orchard including outdoor activities in the Orchard and refreshments

Got an idea like this?

Over £200 million has been raised from our crowd to support the projects they love! Plus tens of millions more unlocked by our partners.