Vandalised community orchard set to bloom again

Twenty three newly planted apple, pear and cherry trees were torn out of the ground in Cato Street, Southwick on the night of Friday 5 November and stacked up ready to be set alight. The trees had been planted by residents with the help of volunteers from Esh Construction and the Princes Trust just days before. Thanks to quick thinking by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service on the night, 19 of the original trees were able to be saved.

These along with 4 replacement trees have now been replanted by volunteers from the SARA Project (Southwick Altogether Raising Aspirations). Four flowering cherry trees have also been planted in the memory garden which is being developed on the site.

The SARA project was set up last year to revitalise Southwick and help support residents in the area. Based at Austin House on Shakespeare Street, Southwick, it brings together Sunderland City Council, Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue, Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit, Adult and Children's services, housing, education and health partners.

The community orchard was the idea of local schoolchildren following extensive consultation with the community about what they would like to see on the land in Cato Street site, which had been standing empty for more than 20 years.

Southwick councillor and SARA representative, Councillor Alex Samuels said: "We were devastated by the attack especially after all the hard work our residents and volunteers had put into planning the orchard and planting it up.

"But we've been overwhelmed by the support we've had from residents and the way they've rallied round to help replant the trees.

"It's wonderful to see the trees back in place and I'm really looking forward to seeing the community orchard bloom and flourish over the coming years. It will make such a difference to the area, especially when the flowering cherry trees in the memory garden are in bloom. We've also had local schoolchildren painting stones in memory of family members they have lost, which we hope to place round the trees, so it should look lovely."

Station Manager Shaun Makin, of Marley Park Community Fire Station, said: " I'm glad our crews were able help save the trees and replant them today as part of this community orchard.

"It was such a shame that the incident took place especially as all of those trees were newly planted.

"We've been working so closely with the SARA project and its partners to help reduce ASB in the local area and it's been working as we've seen a reduction in deliberate fire setting." 

In the year it has been going, the SARA project has been involved in everything from developing ambitious plans to improve areas such as Southwick Green and Thompson Park to tackling anti-social behaviour, supporting young people in their tenancies, helping people find work, and encouraging residents to take a real pride in where they live. Residents have been involved every step of the way and the project is already making a very real difference to people's lives.

To find out more about the SARA project and upcoming events contact:

Mobile: 07867156667 or follow Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: LetsTalkSARA

Thank you to the National Lottery Players for supporting SARA through the National Lottery's Community Fund.