Wasteland to wildlife sanctuary: Totterdown Community Orchard

Hidden away in the heart of Totterdown, a once-forgotten patch of wasteland has flourished into a thriving community orchard, buzzing with wildlife, fruit, and local life. Join the celebrations on Sunday 21 September for their lively apple pressing event, part of the 2025 Get Growing Trail, and taste the fruits of this much-loved green haven for yourself. Sarah Rowlands reports. 

Originally planted on wasteland, Totterdown Community Orchard has become a sanctuary for wildlife while providing an important green space for local residents. I spoke with site manager Anne Silber ahead of the 2025 Get Growing Trail about their upcoming apple pressing event and what’s in store for the future of the site. 

Anne began by telling me how the orchard first came to be: ‘The land that the Orchard is on was wasteland. My other half started clearing it when he moved into the area in 2006. In 2011, the Totterdown Residents Association was looking for somewhere that we could create a community Orchard, so we thought that this was suitable land and we had some apple trees and other fruit trees planted there, we’ve been managing it ever since.’  

I asked Anne how the urban orchard benefits the local community.‘I think hugely. We’ve had a wonderful berry crop this year, people know it’s there and they come down and pick the berries.’ As well as providing local residents with fruit, Anne described the impact the space has on those living in the area. Talking about the community space at the site, Anne tells me, ‘People use it, from toddlers just having space to ride a tricycle, BMX cyclists and skateboarders use it. People locally just come and sit out there because it’s a space where you are surrounded by trees and green, people appreciate that.’ 

Get Growing Trail 2025: What’s happening at the Orchard? 

Anne told me all about what we can enjoy on site as part of the Get Growing Trail this September. “We’ve booked an apple press and scratter to come in on the Sunday (21st) afternoon. We’re going to be pressing apples, the big tree has got a really good crop this year. People can bring their own apples as well!’ 

‘It’s a great event because children can pick apples off the tree and chuck them in the scratter and emerge with some apple juice and drink it.’  

Anne went on to tell me about other events at the orchard that celebrate local wildlife and assert the value of this sacred green space in the city. 

‘We’ve done an evening identifying bats that were coming in. Before the Get Growing trail, I’m going to be doing a moth evening. Apparently, moths like alcohol, the same as us! They’re going to have access to rum, sugar and wine-soaked rope. People can come along and help identify them. I might call it a cocktail evening for moths!’ 

Alongside the bats and moths, a hive of bees also calls the orchard home. Anne tells me about some recent renovations and the work being done to ensure the bees continue to thrive:‘They were left in a very small hive, they kept swarming because they were crowded in there. We’ve done some fundraising on the street and raised enough money to buy a much bigger hive. There are four of us on the street who are going to train as beekeepers so that we can take them on.’ 

An Asset of Community Value 

The Totterdown Community Orchard is now registered as an Asset of Community Value. Anne spoke about what this means and how the recognition will allow for the Orchard to continue as a cherished community space for local people and critters alike! 

‘We’ve now been able to apply for some funding to develop more planting space in the community space. We’re planting herbs, we’re trying to develop food crops. We’re trying to get funding to build a big bed that we can fill with soil and have some more plants.’ 

Speaking on what the Community Value Status means for the future of the orchard Anne adds, ‘I think what would be in our favour is the support of the local counsellors and the community. It is very much valued as a green space in an area where people have very small gardens or live in flats where people have no outdoor space.’ 

Grab your containers and head down to Totterdown Community Orchard on Sunday 21 September for their apple pressing event, part of this year’s Get Growing Trail! Find out more about the Get Growing Trail on the Bristol Good Food website.

Bristol Food Network Volunteer Sarah Rowlands has also written for this blog about The Freedom Kids Podcast: Raising the voices of young people, How The MAZI Project is tackling food disparity and providing a lifeline for Bristol’s vulnerable youth and How Universal Basic Income for Farmers aims to provide a future of food security for us all. 

To stay updated on future events, job opportunities and news, don’t forget to sign up for the Bristol Good Food Update at bristolgoodfood.org/newsletter.