Tilling Green Estate was buzzing with action for two days in late January. A big blue van and Rye’s own Community Compost van were spotted dropping off bags, posts, tools and most importantly trees at selected bare grassy areas. Residents realised that after months of preparation the day had finally come.
The weather wasn’t on our side; however, we carried on. Braving the rain and cold, ably led by Stephan Gehrels from Brighton Permaculture Trust, seven local volunteers planted a variety of twenty fruit trees around the estate.
Digging through heavy clay, pounding posts, dragging bags loaded with compost and wood chips, setting up two tree security systems – our team soon realised this was not ‘playing in the mud’ but a project with a mission, a tough mission, but a worthy one.
Dan and Donna from the Tilling Green Residents Association fuelled us with teas, coffees, biscuits and cake at the Community Centre daily which helped as we struggled through the miserable weather and succeeded. The twenty trees in the Tiling Green orchard include select varieties of apples, pears, plums, gages, mulberry and walnuts.
The project was paid for by grants obtained by Brighton Permaculture Trust. A huge thank you to those who contributed, including the Bernard Neville Trust.
It’s been amazing to see the trees thrive throughout the year. They’ll provide food, shade and ambiance for Tilling Green residents for decades to come, each tree representing one further step to reducing climate change impacts.
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