RSA Berwick: Plant fruit trees on a community solar farm!

We're headed to Berwick to plant fruit trees for a community orchard on Berwick Solar Farm with the Cuckmere Community Solar team!

Join us in this refreshing environment to meet Fellows, make meaningful connections, discuss new ideas or interests, and boost wellbeing while taking action to make a difference locally.   

We’ll be participating in an RSA tradition of tree planting with an updated twist - come learn about the new renewable energy model of Cuckmere Community Solar, a part-commercial, part-community owned solar farm. 

Alister Scott FRSA of Cuckmere Community Solar and Ollie Pendered of Community Energy South will share the solar farm’s story and its benefits for wildlife, farming, shareholders and the wider community. 

Ecologist Clare Halliday of Wychwood Biodiversity will lead us in planting the community orchard, an important part of the wildlife management plan, and be at hand to help should anyone find any species and spot any flora or fauna that needs identifying! 

We will be planting a selection of fruit trees for the wildlife and community to enjoy including pears, cooking apples and cherry. We will be also looking to tackle the weeds in the community area, build a woodchip path to the community seating area, and if we can source around 6 pallets and materials including old bamboo, pine cones and old roof tiles, we can also build a bug hotel – which we are hoping that some of our younger guests can help with.

We will provide some tools for the day, but any additional equipment will be welcomed, please bring gloves, forks, spades, trowels or your favoured tools.

What to bring: We’ll gather rain or shine, so bring clothing and gear appropriate for the day.  If there are showers, bring wet weather gear.  If it’s really pitching down with rain, we will notify of cancellation and reschedule for another date in January 2019. 

Please bring a bottle of water and a reusable cup to enjoy a hot or cold beverage that will be provided on site. There will be some snacks for us to keep up our energy.

Bring gardening gloves, your favourite spade, trowel or fork even a thermos of tea if you like. Also, Alister has invited all back to his house afterwards if you’d like to carry over a warm mug of tea. 

Who can join:  All are welcome to join for this family-friendly event.  Dogs are welcome if kept under close control.  If you have any access requirements or require any reasonable adjustments, please let the team know: networks@rsa.org.uk . Please also let us know if you have any dietary requirements or severe allergies.

To ensure group safety, numbers are limited to 20. Please register a free ticket in advance. 

Location: Cuckmere Community Solar Farm (Berwick solar farm), Lower Wick Street, Berwick, BN26 6TR.  Entrance on Lower Wick Street, just off Wick Street half a mile north of Arlington Reservoir. Parking is at the end of the entrance track, next to the community educational area. Berwick Railway Station is also located 0.9miles south and the site can be reached by walking along the road or pre-arranging lifts.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Claire Doran, RSA South East Area Manager: claire.doran@rsa.org.uk.