Whyke Community Orchard
entrance off Shone Court, PO19 8FT
(The orchard lies alongside the twitten that runs south from the junction of Kingsham Road/Avenue - opposite where Kingsham Road leads into Grove Road - to the A27 Chichester Bypass. From the Kingsham estate, find Shone Court off Exton Road as shown below on Google Maps.) There is no access from Herald Drive/Phoenix Close just to the west.
Chichester's second community orchard, of Sussex heritage apples, plums and cherries, was planted in 2013. Transition Chichester volunteers were supported by local housing association, Hyde, which granted a lease of the land and helped to fund the original trees.
You can find the latest plan of the orchard below.
Descriptions of the various fruit varieties have been prepared for us by David Wilson. They are listed alphabetically by type. Click below to jump to the relevant list:
Members of the local community are welcome to take and use the fruit the orchard produces for their personal household use. It is also an oasis in which to sit and simply enjoy the nature around you.
The orchard is looked after by volunteers. If you would like to lend a hand, please contact jenny.music@lycos.com. Working parties usually take place once a fortnight on Wednesday mornings, when needed.
Alfriston
Late cooking apple, best picked late October and cooks down to a purée; sharp but loses acidity on keeping. Bright greenish yellow. raised by Mr. Shepherd of Alfriston in late 1700s and originally called Shepherd’s Pippin. It was sent to the RHS for approval by Mr Booker of Alfriston in 1891, and thus acquired its name. The “Fishermen’s Apple”, taken on voyages for its good keeping. Sold commercially up to the 1930s.
Duck’s Bill
A late dessert apple; rich and sweet but chewy. It is ribbed and flat sided, giving rise to its name. Produced by Fred Streeter, Head Gardener at Petworth, 1937; it may be related to an ancient Ducksbill variety recorded in Sussex.
Tinsley Quince (A1, A2)
A mid to late dessert apple; supposed to have quince flavour but often tasting more lemony. Green, turning yellow when fully ripe and often large. Originated in Crawley in 1942. Good for Tarte Tatin, quite sweet, keeping its shape and going well with sweet pastry.
Wadhurst Pippin (K5)
A very late dessert apple, savoury but quite sharp; best treated as cooker early but becomes sweeter on keeping. Yellow to orange in appearance with streaks of crimson, strongly ribbed to the point of looking irregular in shape. Found in Wadhurst ca. 1800.
Plums and Cherries
Mirabelle
(not currently held in the National Fruit Collection)
Description to follow.
Victoria
(National Fruit Collection entry)
This is the classic English plum, ready in September, a greenish-yellow exterior overlain with purple, with sweet yellow flesh separating from the stone. The tree is hardy, self-fertile and generally free from disease. It bears heavy crops and should be thinned. Accounts of its origin state that it was a chance discovery in a garden in ‘Alderton, Sussex’ which does not exist. It could be from Alderton, Suffolk or Walderton, Sussex? Take your pick! It was almost certainly named for Queen Victoria, by nurseryman Mr. Denyer of Brixton, who promoted it as Denyer’s Victoria from 1837 when Victoria was crowned - previously it had been called Sharp’s Emperor.