TCTOP – Parsonage Farm
![](http://malvernhills-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Music-in-the-orchard.jpg)
Parsonage farm sits on the side of a spectacular Rochford valley and within hailing distance of some of our other orchards – ideal for wildlife moving between orchards! Farmers in this area have worked together to make wildlife corridors and the orchards all contribute to this brilliant idea.
![](http://malvernhills-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Harvest-festival-in-the-orchard.jpg)
This black and white timbered farmhouse and it’s surrounding land and orchards have a long history and it has been in the same family for many years. There are several orchards on the farm, including a Perry orchard whose trees are unfortunately too tall for volunteers to work on.
![](http://malvernhills-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/pdamsons.jpg)
Unusually there are the remnant trees of a Damson orchard close to the house – damsons tend to be planted as hedgerow trees to bring in the bees with their early blossom but not grown as a single crop. At the foot of the valley, next to the stream, is a smaller linear mixed orchard, probably planted to make the best use of a difficult space!
![](http://malvernhills-nl.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Planting.jpg)
This year fruit trees were planted out as part of the local churches Autumn Harvest festival, with the service combining worship and tree planting ! TCTOP provided the trees and guards, since the orchard is grazed year round, and the congregation did the hard work ! We’re now planning to carry out some formative pruning and some restoration work in the bottom orchard.