THE NATIONAL Trust for Jersey has applied to turn a former agricultural field into a community orchard in St Mary.
The application seeks to change the use of field 01526 on La Rue Mahier in St Ouen, near St Mary’s School, into an orchard of fruit trees.
The environmental heritage charity already owns the field, which is known as ‘Le Don Batho-Hotton’, having been gifted it in 2022, as an application document states.
A supporting document submitted as part of the application says the existing field is a “relatively species-poor” space, which has not been used for agricultural purposes for “at least” 40 years.
It was previously used for horse grazing, the charity said.
The National Trust hopes to extend the existing and gapping hedgerow and plant 16 fruit trees, including several species of apple trees, as well as pear, plum, damson and various nut trees.
The charity says several wildlife species would benefit from the increase of habitat and food sources in the change of use, including birds, insects, hedgehogs, red squirrels and bats.
The community would also benefit from boosting the green infrastructure in the area, the National Trust said, as it would provide an educational resource, a source of locally grown fruit and greater access to wildlife.
