Community Orchard Project South East (COPSE)
A social enterprise creating and enhancing community orchards
COPSE is a social enterprise set up to engage with other community organisations and landowners to create and enhance community orchards in and around Surrey and further afield in the South East.
Growing Orchards ... Nurturing Community
Based in Haslemere, Community Orchard Project South East (COPSE) is all about creating orchards in and around Southern England for local community groups. The project is coordinated by Gareth Matthes and Claire Matthes, Dr. Susan Ryland and Andrew Rothwell. Gareth and Andrew have been practising ecologists for over 20 years, with an interest in conserving traditional orchards, for people and wildlife. Claire is a qualified family and early years practitioner with experience in facilitating community projects. She is also a Haslemere Town Councillor. Susan is an environmental artist and educationist having work experience with Community Art Projects.
Claire Matthes
COPSE
Grayshott Community Orchard
We are currently working with Grayshott Parish Council to be part of bringing a Community Orchard to Grayshott!
We’ll be asking ‘How might you use the shared space?’ That might look like a forest school space for nurseries linked to the EYFS, or an outdoor classroom space for school children linked to the National Curriculum, outdoor activities for Scouts, or well-being and natural health activities to support mental health across the ages, conservation tasks or gardening clubs – the list is potentially endless! Or perhaps you’d just like a space to read a book, or sit and chill under the canopy of a blossoming tree....?
But these are our ideas - we’d like to hear yours! Comment at the bottom of this page and look out for us around about the community soon!
Community orchards benefit User Groups by:
- Providing a focus for community events, activities and training.
- Being a vehicle for social cohesion - working groups, events and food sharing.
- Providing a community resource - a place for quiet reflection and casual recreation.
- Being a source of locally-grown, seasonal fresh fruit.
- Creating traditional orchards for wildlife and increasing biodiversity.
- Planting trees for Carbon Capture.
Grayswood Nursery Forest School Orchard
A small orchard of 20 trees was planted by Gareth and Andy during June 2019, with parents, children and local Councillors helping-out. The trees were planted in groups of five, providing an outdoor learning space for the School.
How can Haslemere residents get involved?
Do you have an area in your garden crying out for the shade, blossom and fruit of an orchard tree? Perhaps there’s a small patch of local green space you often walk past or an outdoor area at work which feels a little unloved? Improve the environment for yourself, others, the bees and wildlife with our help! Or get involved in our future projects - look out for a community orchard coming to Haslemere soon!
- Claire, Gareth, Susan and Andy.
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Our focus is to grow this space to become a place of value where you can contribute, learn, teach, share & feel engaged in community life. Our vision is to create a space for the community and support you to create something amazing within it.
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BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF VOLUNTEERING
Community Interest Company (number 13424641)
Email us on
info@thisishaslemere.co.uk
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