Totterdown Sprouting

Led by Anne Silber, TS is a project to use open spaces around Totterdown to grow vegetables and fruit which everyone can share. We have been inspired by a project called Incredible Edible Todmorden. We are looking for people to help in many ways – for example planting, expertise, enthusiasm and organising.

More background…


  • Celebration of cherry blossom in the Community Orchard
    April 13th 2024. members of Tresa gathered in the orchard for a ‘hanami’ session or ‘viewing the flowers’ to celebrate the wonderful cherry blossom. There was a work party followed by a short picnic under the cherry blossom.
  • The History of Totterdown Community Orchard
    Totterdown Community Orchard was mostly planted in 2011 on waste land although work on clearing rubbish from the area and some planting had been started in 2006. The land is very steep, facing west and had previously been the site of two houses at the end of a terrace. The terrace – called “Pooles Crescent”[…]
  • Orchard Work Party
    On Monday 21st January, TRESA held a work party in the community orchard on Park Street. Park Street resident Julian (Local champion for the Orchard) was able to get a paid day of work on a community project through his employer Amey.  We were delighted that the Orchard was included in their scheme. Much of[…]
  • Wassail in the Orchard
    On Saturday 12th January, TRESA held our fourth annual Wassail at the community Orchard on Park Street. 45 people attended to share a drink of cider/apple juice, toast the trees and make some noise to awaken the trees ready for a good crop this year.
  • Orchard Work party – 3rd June
    On Sunday 3rd July, TRESA held a work party in the community orchard on Park street.  The event was short notice but we had a team of seven people working in the glorious sunshine.  This was the first event for new member Evie, and we are really grateful for her efforts.  It all made a[…]
  • Sprouting update – May
    There us lots of blossom in the Orchard at the moment which promises good fruit later in the year. We are planning to buy a strimmer with some of our grant money as the grass is getting very long so expect a work party soon. Meanwhile, the brick beds in Oxford St are flourishing with[…]
  • Totterdown Wassailing, Sun 7th Jan 2018
    Residents from Totterdown came together to enjoy the traditional Westcountry ceremony, wassailing, at the Community Orchard and Park Street Community Space on Sunday. Wassailing is an ancient tradition thought to help ‘wake up’ fruit trees for spring, to ensure good growth in the common year. It involves making as much noise as possible, so adults[…]
  • Apple picking and apple pressing in the Community Orchard
    Lots of lovely apple juice produced from the apples in the community orchard. Thanks to Richard for bringing along the equipment and to everyone who came.
  • Gardening Club 11th September
    We were a small gardening group on Monday 11th September meeting in Oxford Square but cleared some weeds and planted saffron crocus bulbs. These will flower next autumn and if you have the patience can provide saffron. Meanwhile many of the plants are continuing to flourish and flower. Next Gardening club will be on Monday[…]
  • Orchard Work Party for Earth Day
    On Saturday 22nd April, we held a work party at the Orchard and Community Space to play a small part in Earth Day.  We had a small group of seven people and managed to make a great impact. We managed to achieve our target of cutting back the weeds along the embankment behind the community[…]
  • Gardening Club plants herbs
    The brick bed in Oxford Street square has now been planted up with a variety of plants and herbs. There is a medicinal herbal theme to the planting and we will soon see many native herbs such as Yarrow [Achellea], Foxglove [Digitalis], Camomile, Angelica, Thyme, Marjoram and Lemon balm sprouting forth. The strawberries and some[…]
  • February gardening club
    Monday Gardening club will be meeting again on 13th February at 11.30am. We plan to keep up with the weeding ready for our big plant up starting on 13th March and continuing on Saturday 18th March. The bulbs planted in January are already starting to shoot up – signs spring is just around the corner.
  • 2017 Wassailing
    On 7th January, local residents joined TRESA to give a warm welcome to 2017 with the fifth annual wassailing at the community orchard in Park Street and on Zone A, Wells Road. We had a crowd of over 20 people starting in the community space with a drink of cider / apple juice before heading[…]
  • Gardening Club – Mon 12th Dec
    Many thanks to Tom, Erica and Suzanne who joined me for gardening club in Totterdown square yesterday. Look out for our decorations to compliment Giovanna’s tree. We also planted crocuses which will flower in early spring and alliums and tulips which will flower in early summer. Our next gardening club will be 9th January. Come[…]

How to get involved

  • Weed the flowers beds outside Tesco.
  • Come along to the weekly Gardening Club.
  • Donate gardening tools.
  • Help prune the Orchard.
  • Water the street planters.
  • Come along to any orchard event.