The North Thoresby Community Orchard is a special green space created by local people for the benefit of the whole village. It was set up to bring the community together, encourage wildlife, and create a peaceful place where people of all ages can enjoy nature. 

The orchard project began in 2024 when residents, volunteers, and local organisations worked together to turn the idea into reality. Around 45 fruit trees were planted, including traditional orchard varieties, helping to preserve local heritage while also supporting bees, birds, and other wildlife. The project received support from YMCA Lincolnshire, the Coronation Orchard Project, and local funding schemes.

From the beginning, the orchard was very much a community effort. Local children helped plant trees, volunteers gave their time to prepare and maintain the site, and many residents supported the project in different ways. The orchard has quickly become a place where people can meet, walk, relax, and enjoy community events. 

North Thoresby has a long history as a rural farming village, and the orchard continues that connection with the land. It celebrates traditional fruit growing while creating something valuable for future generations. 

Today, the North Thoresby Community Orchard is a growing community space that reflects the pride, teamwork, and spirit of the village. As the trees mature, the orchard will continue to provide beauty, wildlife habitat, and enjoyment for many years to come.

Meet The Bees

We have three active bee hives situated within the apiary at the orchard and, each year from late spring onwards, we host our popular “Meet the Bees” experiences.

These free educational events begin with a short introduction to the honey bee, its fascinating lifecycle, and the important role bees play in pollination and the environment. Visitors are then shown the construction and layout of a traditional WBC hive, helping them understand how a colony functions and how beekeepers manage the bees throughout the season. Once the introduction is complete, it’s time to suit up.

Participants are provided with protective bee suits and gloves before being escorted to the apiary for a guided hive inspection. This unique hands-on experience gives  visitors the opportunity to get up close to the bees in a safe and controlled environment while learning more about the workings of a live colony from experienced beekeepers.

Wassail

Held annually on or around 17th January, the Wassail is a long-standing tradition dating back to pagan times. The ceremony symbolises the awakening of the apple trees from their winter sleep and celebrates the hope of a successful harvest for the year ahead. 

The evening features music, dancing, and the sharing of warm mulled cider, prepared to the orchard’s own secret recipe. Accompanied by the Grimsby Morris Dancers, villagers process from the village hall to the orchard, making as much noise as possible to “wake” the trees and drive away bad spirits.

Once in the orchard, the traditional Wassail ceremony is performed amongst the trees before celebrations continue at The New Inn, where traditional Lincolnshire Plough Plays are enacted, keeping another important piece of local folklore and heritage alive for future generations.

Annual claiming of the orchard

The Community Orchard stands on land generously gifted for the benefit of the village. Although the orchard is held for community use, a traditional annual rent is still paid to the landowners in recognition of their continued support and goodwill. 

Each year, children from Lift North Thoresby visit the orchard to take part in the ancient and symbolic “Claiming of the Orchard” ceremony. 

Representing the village, the children carefully select the largest apple from the orchard and present it to the landowners as the annual payment for the use of the land for the coming year. 

Following the presentation, the children are welcomed into the landowners’ home, where the ceremonial lease document is formally signed. The occasion helps connect younger generations with the village’s traditions and reinforces the strong partnership between the community and the landowners that allows the orchard to continue to flourish for everyone to enjoy.