Alsager Community Orchard

Alsager Community Orchard is situated in Wood Park and was planted earlier this year by Friends of Wood Park.

Some of you will have seen the orchard at its best in late spring, when the wild flowers were blooming and the trees starting to bear fruit. As the summer progressed the site became overgrown and inaccessible, though the intention was that the orchard would provide a habitat for a wide range of wild life and local people would be able to pick and enjoy the fruits.

Alsager Partnership is committed to supporting volunteer groups to ensure that all green spaces in the town are welcoming and safe areas for people living with dementia and their carers. Through our community links we have been able to engage Cheshire East Care4ce to carry out essential work on the site.

Care4ce are a small team of experienced mental health support workers who operate across Cheshire East in partnership with other community-based organisations, receiving referrals from for example: Mental Health Reablement and Mental Health Teams.

Volunteers are supported to take part in socially-inclusive and practical activities where they you can choose to focus on horticultural and countryside conservation projects.

They work in a small group, spending time with others who share their interests and are supported to develop their skills and coping techniques at their own pace. The aim is to develop their confidence and motivation towards increased independence and improved prospects for achieving their goals. https://livewellservices.cheshireeast.gov.uk/Services/1340

The Orchard has now been transformed and the surrounding area has also been tidied with a path to be laid from the orchard down to the main path through the park.

The final stage will be to lay a path around the orchard with seating, so visitors can enjoy a quiet time in pleasant surroundings. The materials are funded by the Dementia Friendly Community Fund.