'Enchanted Orchard' Springs Up At Chiswick Library

Abundance project for this year's Chelsea Fringe festival

A magical orchard of heritage pear trees will be springing up at Chiswick Library for this year’s Chelsea Fringe.

Inspired by finding Abundance’s guerrilla-planted rhubarb patch on their doorstep, the library approached Abundance with an invitation to help create something more ambitious.

Chiswick House Kitchen Garden stepped in with the offer of some spare heritage fruit trees – and the project took wings. Rare pear tree varieties include Susan’s Egg, Lady’s Thigh (Cuisse de Dame)and Damp Mouth (Mouille Bouche).

An under-used concrete space will be transformed into an enchanted orchard, a small oasis of bio-diversity, productivity and fun, with the local library – a potentially threatened endangered species – at its heart.

Children can navigate round the secret mini-maze, browse in the mysterious little outdoor library, book bugs into the insect hotel, hunt out the clues in the treasure trail, then visit the library and take out some books.

Chiswick Library

The Magical Orchard will be launched on the first day of the Chelsea Fringe, 17th May, with planting, craft, food, drink, story-telling and other activities, between 11-3pm. These include;
Sunflower planting
Story-telling
Craft activities
Paint yourself
Treasure trail
Bring a book, take a book
Mel the Bee’s Demonstration Hive and local honey sales
Macintosh Coffee mini-van
Herb, veg and flower seedlings from Cultivate London for sale

The installation will remain in place over the summer for all to enjoy.

The Magical Orchard is a partnership between Abundance London and Chiswick Library. With lots of help from Carillion Services, London Borough of Hounslow, Chiswick House Kitchen Garden.

May 8, 2014