Orchard Link Lower Sharpham Barton Community Orchard is an historic orchard in two plots (old and new). Shown on historic maps dating from 1880, the old orchard has consistently had trees growing there for over 100 years. The new plot has 50 trees and guards which were planted between 2013-15.
Some volunteers include adults with learning difficulties from the Robert Owen Community as well as international students from Ambios Ltd, who are the farm tenants on the Sharpham Estate.
https://www.orchardlink.org.uk/orchard_sites/lower-sharpham-barton-community-orchard-ashprington/
Lost orchards can be re-found and renewed using the Devon County Council Environment Viewer and the power of local communities
Lower Sharpham Farm
Our organic farm at Lower Sharpham Barton is farmed to improve the natural environment and to increase biodiversity, while offering exciting and inspiring engagement and educational activities for the many different participants who visit us.
Lower Sharpham Farm is a collaboration between The Sharpham Trust, Ambios and United Response (formerly The Robert Owen Communities or ROC). Activities continue to run across the whole estate but with more of a hub with daily activities at the farm. United Response continue to engage adults with learning disabilities at Lower Sharpham Farm in agriculture-related activities as they have done for the past 15 years.
Cattle graze the 80 acres in an organic management programme to ensure the best habitat is created for wildlife, for example farmland birds, small mammals and insects.
A small market garden growing wild flowers and plants provides us with delicious produce which you will find for sale at the top of the drive, as well as providing different habitats for many different species.
We have recently entered into a Higher Level Stewardship agreement with Natural England in order to gain supplementary funds to invest in improving habitats on the holding – hedge/field boundaries, species rich grasslands, orchards, arable over wintering stubble for birds.
All the animals we have bring with them either environmental or therapy benefit, over and above their 'sale' value. The farm has a flock of sheep, organic beef cattle, ponies and hens.
There is a small residential base where national and international trainees and volunteers with different backgrounds and abilities come to learn about conservation, rural skills and share their ideas.
https://www.sharphamtrust.org/outdoors/lower-sharpham-barton-farm
