Orchard Event at Farnham Common
PAGE 3 STORYA Maypole Moment in the OrchardAfter two cancellations the rain stoppedand on Wednesday, May 16 the firstafter-schools event took place in thecommunity orchard (see photos on frontinside and outside cover).“It w<strong>as</strong> brilliant”, said Alan French, whoheads up the Orchard steering group.“Some 150 parents and children cameto enjoy the maypole dancing, facepainting and cake stall <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong>enjoying a tre<strong>as</strong>ure hunt andstorytelling. It w<strong>as</strong> terrific to see theorchard so full of life - and we hope thatthis will be the start of many suchevents”.<strong>The</strong> success shows the importance ofinvolving the wider community from thestart. <strong>The</strong> steering group w<strong>as</strong> lucky tohave the help of two young people,Klara Slais and Francesca (Chez)McDougal, both from BeaconsfieldHigh, who became involved with theorchard <strong>as</strong> part of their Duke ofEdinburgh Award community project.<strong>The</strong>y attended meetings, came up withide<strong>as</strong>, created a poster, enthused theirfriends in the village and enlisted thehelp of gifted face-painter, AlanaPilbrough, also from Beaconsfield High.Rachel Slais, who is Klara’s mum and <strong>as</strong>teering group member, liaised with theInfant and Junior schools to ensure staffand parents all became involved andgave their support.Donations of cakes including someenvironmentally themed cupcakes,made by Klara and Chez, proved to beone of the highlights of the afternoon3with helpers finding it difficult to keep upwith the demand from youngsters. <strong>The</strong>coloured ribbons on the maypole, madeby Mark Frater using a silver birch trunk,were also an immediate draw.Thanks must also go to Nicola Barwellfor her help in organising the day,Michael She<strong>as</strong>by for his bee-keepingstorytelling, Adele Feaver, FarnhamCommon Junior School and Nick Bright.Survey<strong>The</strong> results of a survey carried out atthe Orchard Social Evening in Marchshowed that weekday daytime, afterschool, and summer evenings wereconsidered to be the most populartimes for orchard events, althoughlogistically due to volunteers’ daytimecommitments the weekends are oftenthe e<strong>as</strong>iest to manage. Music w<strong>as</strong> seen<strong>as</strong> an important component of anyevent and good communication with theschools is paramount together withinvolvement from other localorganisations.Orchard Day, Saturday 22 September<strong>The</strong> next major event will be OrchardDay on Saturday afternoon, September22nd. <strong>The</strong>re will be apple juicing, a cakestall, music and dancing, competitions,talks and arts and crafts stalls. If youwould like to join the steering group orhave any ide<strong>as</strong> for Orchard Day ple<strong>as</strong>eget in touch with the parish clerk(clerkfrpc1@btconnect.com) who willp<strong>as</strong>s on your messages. We would alsolike to <strong>as</strong>k all the groups who planted atree to keep in touch and maintain theirinvolvement with the orchard.Diane Needham