CARHAMPTON residents held a picnic on Saturday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their community orchard.

The orchard was officially opened by Sir Walter Luttrell on June 20, 1998, after nine years of hard campaigning, planning and fundraising. At that time, it was a bare field with a scattering of new apple saplings and a few ancient and decaying trees.

There was plenty of grass for dancing to Brian Heaton’s melodeon on the opening day, but no shade. In contrast, the wide-spreading branches of the orchard’s 50 trees provided plentiful shade from Saturday’s strong sunshine.

But there was still space to dance – again to Brian’s melodeon, this time with Doug Eaton calling the dances and Carhampton Village Band members Keith Jones and Gen Pluck entertaining the picnickers as they dined.

During the celebrations, a new apple tree was unveiled in memory of local historian and Free Press columnist Hilary Binding, who campaigned and worked for the orchard alongside her many other community activities.

Carhampton Community Orchard is open all year round. Its next event is a Wildlife Week from August 4 to 11.