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Hidden Dorset > Discover > Natural Environment > Countryside > Willy Tuck's Orchard
Willy Tuck's Orchard
Kim Squirrell
The Office
The Old Post Office
Duck Street
Symondsbury
DT6 6EZ
Tel: 01308 427449/420602
Willy Tuck's Orchard Countryside
Willy Tuck’s Orchard (Hale’s orchard on the 1839 tithe map) is a replanted cider orchard. Restored in 1999 by The Symondsbury Apple Project it is now home to The Treewise Co-operative.
The orchard is equipped with compost toilets and solar water heating. A locally made 16 foot yurt provides shelter and an inspirational learning space. The site has limited public access and is used mainly as a teaching space and for playgroups and outdoor sessions for local families.
The Treewise Co-operative is committed to creating enriching learning experiences in the natural environment for as many people as possible. The ethos of the group is founded on the belief that caring for the environment starts with spending meaningful unmediated time outdoors. Co-op members therefore work at devising ways to encourage families to access and enjoy natural and wild spaces. This has led to various projects including the Wild Trees Club funded by the Local Network Fund, which runs monthly outdoor sessions linked to national tree initiatives such as the Woodland Trust Seed Hunt and Tree For All. The Club has also enjoyed forest school and bushcraft sessions designed to inspire families to spend more time in woodlands.
Co-op members also run art and craft sessions in the orchard using natural materials. All the workshops begin with an awareness raising exercise such as a short sensory nature walk. Some workshops, such as story-making take place entirely outside.
The Co-operative hold several seasonal celebrations in the orchard and an Apple Day Tea in the village.
Directions
The village of Symondsbury lies one and a half miles west of Bridport.
By car:
From Axminster take A35 towards Bridport. After Chideock turn left to Symondsbury and drive a little way along the Bridport road (West Road) then turn left at the sign post into Duck Street (no road sign).
From Dorchester take A35 towards Lyme Regis. From Bridport bypass turn right to Symondsbury and follow the road around turning left as above. The orchard is located along Duck Street just before the first village houses (on the left). Once you have found the orchard please park in the village near the green and walk back.
By bus: The number 31 bus travels between Weymouth and Axminster hourly and stops on the West Road at the edge of the village. The X53 express service between Exeter and Weymouth also stops on the West road at the Symondsbury turning.
By Train: The easiest route is To Axminster station then the 31 bus from the train station.
Parking: please park in the village centre and walk to the orchard. Parking for events will be signposted.
Additional Information
A regular parent and child playgroup is held in the orchard on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from April to October. Treewise also runs a year round group at Monkton Wyld Court.
In March a Tree dressing in the orchard includes craft activities bird feeding and lantern making.
The Easter Egg Hunt is a 2 day affair with environmental sculpture and story making for parents, carers and older children on Good Friday and a story and hunt on Saturday morning for children of 8 and under.
May Volunteer Day and The Blossom Picnic brings friends old and new together for seasonal tasks and a nettle soup lunch amongst the apple blossom.
In June and July the orchard usually welcomes families for a Summer activity week and the playgroups celebrate their end of year with an Open Day.
The orchard and yurt can be hired for workshops.
Apple pressing and processing equipment also for hire.
Up and coming event:
Apple Day is held in the Symene Sports field on Duck Street.
Apple Day Tea 7th of October 2007 (TBC)
2 pm - 5.30 pm
Lots of family activities, games, producer stalls, apple identification, juice pressing, refreshments, music
Symene Sports Pavilion
Level playing field with wheelchair access to the pavillon.
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