THE COMMUNITY ORCHARD
College Way was constructed in 1969 on land belonging to the Britannia Royal Naval College (Ministry of Defence). The lower part between College Way and Ridge Hill/Mount Boone was an old orchard which was leased by the Town Council and became Dartmouth Community Orchard. Around 70 new trees were planted.
The apples can be picked by the community in the autumn when an apple pressing day is held organised by the Friends of the Orchard. It is also used for educational purposes when school children visit. The large old trees at the top of the site are in the Conservation Area.
In winter 2014 Orchardlink, which managed the site for the Town Council, planted 10 new apple trees and pruned existing ones.
Since then the Friends of the Orchard have worked on maintenance and new plantings with the help of naval cadets from the BRNC and town gardeners. Paths have been improved and hedges planted.
(See website link for the friends on our contacts page).
BEACON HILL PARK (Jawbones)
DGP workinged with the Dart Area Landscape Access Group (DALAG) on this 15 hectare site above Dartmouth at the end of the 6km Jubilee Walk created in 2012. It was the town tip, and is the site of one of a chain of hilltop beacons. It is currently owned by South Hams District Council. There are great views of Dartmouth from the park.
DALAG cleared an area of brambles and nettles, and created a picnic site with several table benches surrounded by newly planted young oak trees.
In March 2014 a DGP work group planted native foxglove, ox-eye daisies, field scabious and tete a-tete daffodils and scattered mixes of perennial native wild flower seeds and grasses and some poppies.
In 2021 plans are being developed with the Dartmouth Sustainability Group to obtain funding to develop a community woodland on the site. It will be a series of interlinked copses of native trees. The perimeter paths and viewing points will be retained, and the large central habitat areas of brambles, to encourage wildlife.
It is hoped that permission will be obtained from the Palace to name the woodland after Prince Philip, in recognition of the Royal links to Dartmouth and the BRNC which is visible from the site.
LONGCROSS CEMETERY
Longcross Cemetery in Townstal is 200 years old and is owned and managed by the Town Council.
Flora Thompson, author of ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’ is buried in Longcross cemetery.
There are 9 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-18 war and 21 of the 1939-45 war here. There are also 7 Foreign National burials.
Much of the site is grassed over and somewhat overgrown. There is a memorial garden with seats and a natural burial area. There are plans to maintain the area in ways to better encourage wild flowers, and the Memorial Garden has been revamped.