COPSE

COPSE stands for Community Orchard Project South East. It is a Haslemere-based social enterprise group which creates and enhances orchards in the South East for local community groups.

What they do:

COPSE holds a range of talks and events throughout the year such as the ever-popular Swan Barn Wassail in January, and provides advice to anyone wanting to establish a community orchard.

In Haslemere, there is 0.8 hectare orchard at Swan Barn Farm. There is also a orchard in Grayswood. This was designed and planted for Grayswood Forest School in 2019. COPSE was also responsible for planting 5 trees in the newly established Lion Green Orchard.

Not only do these orchards provide a fantastic community resource, offering a place for quiet reflection, but they encourage members to work together to care for the orchard and distribute its fruit for the benefit of the local community.

How they work:

Community orchards benefit the community in a number of ways. Certainly, they provide a focus for community events, activities and training. However, they are also a source of locally grown, seasonal fresh fruit and encourage wildlife and biodiversity. And, in addition, they provide a community resource and a place for quiet reflection and casual recreation. ​

Another key feature of COPSE is that where trees are planted to help meet local and regional tree planting targets, COPSE ensures that this is done in a community-centred way. They make sure that the trees are cared for and produce fruit that is distributed where it can best be used for community benefit.