Mini-Orchard in Belgrave Square

Around 90% of traditional orchards in London have been destroyed since the 1900s (as reported by The Orchard Project) so we selected historical trees with links to London or the business with the help of The Tree Council, including:

The Arthur W Barnes apple, which was raised from Gascoyne's Scarlet x Cox's Orange Pippin by N F Barnes, Head Gardener to the Duke of Westminster at Eaton Hall, Chester, UK in 1902

The Millicent Barnes apple, which was also raised by N F Barnes at Eaton Hall from Gascoyne's Scarlet x Cox's Orange Pippin, in about 1903

The King of the Pippins apple, which was first introduced to England in around 1800, and which likely originated earlier in the 1770s, probably in France or potentially Holland

The Mulberry Chelsea tree, which is derived from the last remaining tree that was planted during the reign of King James I, at what is now known as the Chelsea Physic Garden.

As well as supporting biodiversity and improving air quality, the orchard will also enhance educational— and eventually nutritional— opportunities for the 200 children who attend Grosvenor’s Forest School in Belgrave Square each week. As well as supporting biodiversity and improving air quality, the orchard will also enhance educational— and eventually nutritional— opportunities for the 200 children who attend Grosvenor’s Forest School in Belgrave Square each week.

To help measure the impact of the new orchard, GPUK will work with Agrisound, a start-up which monitors the sounds made by insects and uses e-DNA sampling techniques to map the different species living there.