Apple tree. Back on 6th February 2010 the Dorchester and Weymouth Greenpeace group with support from the Liberal Democrats, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Dorchester Transition Town and the then Deputy Mayor Kate Hebditch planted a Cox’s Orange Pippin apple tree in front of the allotments alongside the river Frome. The tree was kindly donated by Poundbury Garden Centre. The tree is twinned with the apple orchard planted in Sipson on 13th November 2009 on the site where the Heathrow third runway was proposed to be built. Dorchester showed common cause with the people of Sipson by demonstrating Dorchester’s commitment to combating climate change. We hope to be able to erect a plaque on the first anniversary of the planting to mark the very successful campaign against the third runway.
The runway scheme was cancelled due to overwhelming public opinion against the project and to the realisation by politicians that the UK would not be able to meet the 80% EU carbon emissions target in 2050 if the runway was to go ahead. The trees at the Airplot orchard are thriving as is our tree, see photographs.
Airplot orchard
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