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Welcome to
Wendover Parish Council
Community Orchard
The Wendover Memorial Community Orchard was planted as a memorial to the men from the Parish of Wendover who lost their lives during the First World War, honouring their bravery and sacrifice.
The orchard was planted in 2014 to mark one hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War on 28 July 1914. It includes 60 trees, with two located in the adjacent Hampden Meadow. During the four years of fighting, the Parish of Wendover lost 59 men. Their names are recorded on the Wendover War Memorial in the High Street and inside St Mary’s Church, both just a short walk from the orchard.
The Wendover Memorial Community Orchard provides a peaceful place for reflection and remembrance within the parish, recognising the sacrifice made by these men and their families.
To learn more about the local people who died during the First World War and the impact on the community, visit the month-by-month historical accounts published in Wendover News.
What is a Community Orchard?
A Community Orchard is a shared green space containing fruit trees grown for the enjoyment of local people. It is a place to relax, learn and enjoy nature, while providing healthy fruit that can be shared within the community. Community orchards also support education, wildlife, wellbeing and local events throughout the year.
Wendover Parish Council hopes that the Wendover Memorial Community Orchard will become an important part of the parish’s heritage for generations to come.
The trees and their fruit
The orchard contains a wide variety of fruit trees including apple, pear, cherry, plum, gage, mulberry, quince and medlar. Tree varieties include Buckinghamshire Sheep’s Nose (cider apple), Bazeley, Long Reinette and Mary Morgan (dessert apples), Aylesbury Prune and Stewkley Red (dessert plums), Duke of Buckingham (pear), Prestwood White Heart and Ronald’s Heart (cherries), among many others. View the full list of trees.
Biodiversity hotspot
Orchards and meadows are recognised as important biodiversity hotspots, supporting a rich variety of wildlife and plant species. The mix of grassland, fruit trees and natural habitats within the orchard creates valuable spaces for birds, insects and other wildlife to thrive.
Picking fruit
The orchard is open to everyone and free to enjoy. Visitors are welcome to take a reasonable amount of fruit for personal consumption.
With a wide range of tree varieties planted, fruit is available throughout much of the growing season, from cherries in July through to late-season apples in November.
Important information
Some fruit varieties should not be eaten raw. Please look out for the orange tags on trees identifying fruit that requires cooking before consumption. If you are unsure whether fruit is ripe or safe to eat raw, please contact Wendover Parish Council before consuming it.
Funding
The Wendover Memorial Community Orchard project was funded by Wendover Parish Council, which continues to maintain both the orchard and the surrounding meadow. Grateful thanks also go to Aylesbury Vale Community Chest, a community grant scheme run jointly by Aylesbury Vale District Council and Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, for supporting the planting of the orchard.
