BBEC Orchard brings more exciting news to us all.

In 2009 several trees had to be cut down for safety reasons. To mountain a balanced environment BBEC thought it was right to replace the old trees in different locations around the school. After plenty of discussion Mrs Simms wan everyone other with her idea of planting Fruit Tree, because it would provide Blossom for the insects in spring and healthy fruits for us in autumn. BBEC’s idea came into life in January 2010 when we heard of the fruit-full school project we soon applied and after an interview BBEC became part of 1 of 50 schools to be accepted. Fruit-full schools agreed to plant an orchard at BBEC for the local community.

This Orchard had to include heritage fruit trees especially those native to the area we live in! Just a few trees planted here are the Gold Medal which originated in 1832 in Preston and the Longride Proctors seeding.

Our aim is to have 60 trees in the orchard, some planted in groups at the edges of the playing fields with names that suited the planters of the tree. I.e. Plum Pocket, Cooks Corner, the Fruit Bent. So far 34 trees have been planted altogether in the area, with the help of Mr Steve Edwards (Environment Picture LCC) who has plenty of knowledge about orchards+ fruit trees.

THE FUTURE: So what's the future for BBEC orchard? Well there are visitors from Canada coming to school, to plant trees.  More on that in future posts. Keep checking regularly!

Beth Sugden

BLOSSOM TIME COMPETITION

Blossom Time

‘Blossom Time’ is an exciting photography competition for people of all abilities. Whether you are a budding photographer or have never picked up a camera, this is your chance to shine – you could even use your mobile phone! The competition aims to highlight the orchard here at Broughton and to raise awareness of our contribution to the natural environment. As part of an exhibition, all entries will be displayed at school for Gold Medal Day at the end of June. There are different categories as well as different age groups. You can be creative, crazy or traditional; it is up to you, as long as the photo is a maximum size of 7x5” and fits into one of the categories. Anyone can enter and the good news is that the closing date has been extended until 31st May. This is due to the recent bad weather delaying the blossom on the fruit trees. Entries from Broughton students and their families can be handed in at the i Centre. For more details, please see the poster below.
Bethany Sugden (Year 7, Media Team)


CELEBRATE A NEW COMMUNITY ORCHARD PRIZES 
will be awarded in each age group in each class for the best photos.
Class 1 An Orchard
Class 2 Fruit tree in blossom
Class 3 Blossom – A close up
Class 4 First Fruits
Class 5 Pollination
Entries should be in colour,
un-mounted, maximum size 7x5.
All entries must be submitted
in a sealed envelope and be labelled
with the class, your name and age
group.
The photos will form part of an
exhibition to be held at the school
at the end of June 2012
Group A 16 & Over (on 1st April 2012)
Group B Secondary Pupils
Group C Primary Pupils
CLOSING DATE: 18th May 2012
Please enclose an SAE for the return of photographs, alternatively please collect them from the
school after the exhibition. All entries should be sent to Blossom competition, Broughton Business
& Enterprise College, Woodlplumpton Lane, Broughton, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 5JJ.

GOLD MEDAL DAY

THIS IS THE ARTICLE

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The Eco Team have been hard at work recently helping Mrs Sims create a school orchard.

Thanks you to the following pupils for helping plant the many trees:

Oliver Dunkley, Philip Parkinson, Umar Sakha, James Rosendale, Mat Harpley, Ben Welsh, Jake Livesley-Gosling, Ben Horton, Andrew Connell, Peter Earnshaw, Hannah Reef, Katie Armes, Ellie Earnshaw, Sarah Banks, Georgina Round, Beth Cuckson, Thomas Lynch, Chris Wilson, Rachael Lett, Olivia O'Brian, Megan Ray, Isabella Clarkson-Hesketh.

Ms Cox has been giving a helping hand, too, by clearing out the greenhouse to make space for the many new spring projects.

Thanks to a £1000 grant donated  by "Fruitful Schools" we have been able to purchase a bargain priced black metal arch and a variety of plants and fruit tree.  As the soil around BBEC isn't the best of quality we bought some good quality top soil, too.

So what are the plans?

Well, a number of strawberry plants will be planted outside Mr. Morris's office and each form will hopefully sponsor and look after a number of fruit trees in the orchard.

Keep checking in  to see photos of the improvements as they happen  and to receive updates on activities by the eco team.

Adam Todd

Media Team

BBC School News Report

Heritage Hedgerow

 

Wednesday's mission was to plant a key part of the orchard - the six trees to create "Heritage Hedgerow".   These trees are either native to Lancashire or have been widely grown in Lancashire for many years.  Proctor's Seedling from the Longridge area and Scotch Bridget  will prove to be two popular varieties in the not too distant future here at Broughton.

Other areas planted today were "The Courts" "The Fruit Bank" and "Plum Pocket."

"Pie  Corner" and "The Core" remain to be planted.

Tree Planting is Go!

On a drizzly morning in late February, students, staff and expert volunteers headed onto soggy terrain for day one of the BBEC Orchard big dig.  Keen volunteers wielding spades, stakes and wheelbarrows, not to mention a variety of fruit trees, commenced the mammoth job of creating an orchard in the school grounds.  Despite the weather, significant progress was made as you can see from the photos below.

The BBEC Orchard Preparations

After months of planning, preparations for the planting of the BBEC Orchard are in place.

Just before half term an arch arrived in kit form and a group of pupils got it ready to be put into position. We also moved  two clumps of  Iris into temporary positions for safekeeping. 

The plan is that  over half term Barton Grange Landscapes will  commence landscaping the area of the orchard known as the CORE. (This area is small but when fully planted will host,30 – 40 apple and pear trees - most of which will be trained as cordons or espaliers.

Working to a design submitted as part of a Fruit-full Schools competition and redrawn by a landscape architect working on the Guild Wheel, the Barton Grange staff will create five shaped beds (to represent the centre of an apple sliced horizontally), position a pergola and put in supports for the cordon and espalier trees.

We are very grateful for the help given by Barton Grange as part of their donation towards the Guild Wheel and look forward to working with them.

Once the groundwork is complete pupils will be able to plant trees when ground conditions permit and then the process of looking after them will commence.

We hope that each tutor group will adopt and become responsible for a small group of trees to ensure they thrive and become productive for years to come.