With rising fuel and food prices people in Narberth are taking food production back into their own hands.

Two years ago, they set-up their own allotment site with 25 allotments near Heron's Brook, Narberth. Now they, as part of work they are doing with Transitionarberth, have planted over 100 trees to form a community orchard just above the allotments.

A total of 78 people and two dogs turned up to help plant the Community Orchard on Saturday, February 19 (and more came on the Sunday 20th too). Great fun was had by all.

One volunteer commented: "I can't believe how fast it was done, we planted over 100 trees in just three hours. It's amazing what can be achieved by working together."

A total of 44 apple trees were planted - 24 eaters, 11 cookers, six cider and three crab apples, Six damsons, four gages and 10 plums, three quinces, nine pears, 12 cherries, one sweet chestnut, two mulberry, two walnut, 10 Cobnuts and two medlar. The fruit will be free for people to come and pick: local fruit for generations of people to come.

Half the orchard is planted in a conventional style and the other half will become a forest garden. This will involve under-planting with soft fruits and other edible plants. If anybody has any plants they could donate the group would be really appreciative.

PAVS funded the purchase of the trees and equipment to plant the trees, £3,000 in total, through their Pembrokeshire Impact Fund. Keep Wales Tidy also gave nearly £1000 through their Green Communities Grant towards the cost of putting in wheelchair accessible paths and a compost toilet.

The group has also received a community tree planting pack with 105 tree saplings from the Woodland Trust. These will be planted as a chutney hedge in the forest garden area on Friday, April 8.

If you would like an allotment, there are two now available, or for more information/ to help with the community orchard/forest garden, contact [email protected]">[email protected] or 'phone Amber on 01437 731472.