Transition Town Wellington and existing Swains Lane volunteers will be holding an open day at the mature community orchard at the nature reserve tomorrow.

The aim is to encourage new people to join the Swains Lane Nature Reserve Team. Anyone who would like to help enhance the nature reserve for the benefit of wildlife, while at the same time maintaining it as a community resource providing free fresh food for local residents, is invited to go along between 2pm and 4pm.

Volunteers will be on-site to introduce visitors to what is involved – the event includes a scything demonstration, a guided tour of the site and an introduction to what is needed to maintain the orchard and reserve. A small apple press will be available to do some juicing – visitors can take their own apples and bottles to put the juice in.

Anyone who would like to help but cannot make this date should email [email protected].

The orchard spreads over small small fields within a housing estate built towards the end of the 1990s, just off Swains Lane on the south side of Wellington. The lower field was saved from development because of a pond containing great crested newts and contains veteran orchard trees. The upper field has been planted up over the years by the Swains volunteers with help from Wellington in Bloom and the district council, and now holds productive community apple trees, fruit bushes and hazels.

To get there, there are two points of access close to Cox Road TA21 9R – walk to the top corner of the green, to the footpath that joins the end of Foxdown Terrace and turn right – or the footpath on the left at the end of The Brambles TA21 9PS. Visitors are asked to walk or cycle as very little parking is available in this residential area.