ARTHUR Turner, Charles Ross and James Grieve will soon be rubbing shoulders with Ashmead’s Kernel, Blenheim Orange, Bloody Ploughman and Keswick Codling in nooks and crannies all over Hexham.

But far from being a cause for concern, they will represent the expansion of a vision in which residents are able to pick their own fresh produce as they stroll through the streets.

For this wonderful array of apple trees is part and parcel of the Edible Hexham project being rolled out by environmental action group Transition Tynedale.

This time round, orchards are the focus – small in scale, but large in number – and finding the little plots of land that can be used.

To that end, one of the organisers, Matilda Bevan, said: “We want to encourage people to come forward with suggestions of any small patches they might know of where we could plant trees for the benefit of the public. It could be so small that it would take just one tree – as long as there’s a network of trees the pollinating does work.”

While Transition Tynedale is providing the trees, thanks to an anonymous donation it received for the project, it will be up to members of the community to maintain the patch on their doorstep.

“That’s why we’re keeping the numbers small and manageable,” she said. “They will need pruning each winter and kept weed free underneath, but even then we’re planting them with big squares of matting at the base to prevent the weeds coming through.”

First off the blocks are three of the area’s schools - Hexham East First, Hexham Middle and Acomb First. The trees will be going in early next term at the first two, but Acomb is already there.

One sunny Saturday morning recently, parents turned out to help their children and a number of Transition Tynedale members plant 15 fruit trees that were mostly apple, but also included two of plum, two of greengage, and one crab apple to aid pollination.

Tom Martin and Charlie Sewell, from Wylam Nurseries, brought the trees and showed the children how to plant them.

Tom was a driving force behind Wylam Community Orchard, the success of which has been the touchstone for others wanting to establish similar environmental projects.

Acomb school field is nothing short of idyllic, replete with sweeping views of the Tyne Valley and a handful of hens strutting around the luxuriant greenness. But the new orchard has a very practical purpose as well, of course.

Matilda said: “Generally, it’s been found that trees not only improve people’s sense of wellbeing, but also their sense of responsibility in relation to the environment when they have learned to look after them.

“The schools will also have the added benefit of being able to incorporate the trees into the curriculum, when pupils are learning about science, for example, and healthy eating.

“The idea is they will harvest the fruit and use it.”

For the past year, Matilda and Transition Tynedale’s guiding horticultural light Sue Hick have been surveying Hexham, looking for those potential pockets capable of hosting a plethora of urban mini-orchards. It’s never plain sailing, though, and a host of considerations complicate the matter.

Social housing provider Isos is amenable, in principle, to allowing some of its land to be used, but its tenants have to be consulted, the existence of utility pipes running underground investigated, and the access needed by the grass-cutting service catered for.

Transition has already planted a plethora of fruit trees and bushes all over Hexham, alongside the vegetable, salad and herb crops installed in the municipal flower beds it now looks after.

Its community garden on the edge of Hexham Middle School is also thriving.

But as far as Transition Tynedale members are concerned, to live in a town where residents could pick their own dessert on their way home for tea, well, that would just be the cherry on the cake!

Anyone who can suggest a pocket of land or who would like to get involved with Transition Tynedale generally can get in touch via email: info@transitiontynedale.org