Community directory

Rivers Nursery Site and Orchard Group

This is the oldest commercial orchard in England, established in 1798. It is the source of many fruit varieties including the Conference pear and Czar plum and represents a valuable gene pool as well as having many wild flowers. The Group aim to restore, manage and preserve this historic orchard as a community and wildlife site.

The Orchard is open for special events including maintenance days, group visits, talks, walks, dawn chorus, art days, wassailing and pruning tuition. The Group sends out a regular newsletter and copies of archive material are available.

The Group is made up of people with a common interest in their local countryside. Everyone is welcome to join in any of the activities, just bring along your enthusiasm. For practical tasks no experience is neccessary and all tools are provided but please wear suitable clothing and bring a packed lunch if you are staying all day. You will be assured of a warm welcome. The enterance to the Orchard is through the gates off Brook End, off The Crest Sawbridgeworth.

The Rivers Nursery site is private land owned by East Herts District Council. Access to the site for activities organised by the Group is by invitation of the District Council as landowner and no public rights of access are implied.

Forthcoming events for 2008:

• Sunday 2nd March - Pruning in the Orchard (10.30am to 2.00pm)
• Sunday 6th April - Springtime maintenance in the Orchard (10.30am to 2.00pm)
• Sunday 4th May - May Fayre in Church House, Sawbridgeworth (1.00pm to 4.00pm)
• Sunday 1st June - Cherry and Plum prunning in the Orchard (10.30am to 2.00pm)