Produce
Our philosophy is to demonstrate how much variety of produce can come from a small patch of land – while caring for wildlife and nature.
The products of Rollins Wood are one outcome of caring for the land, not its primary purpose. What we obtain is influenced by soil health, weather, wildlife activity, and the capacity of the community. Availability is small-scale, seasonal, and responsive rather than planned for maximum yield.
Highlights
Fruit
Our orchard was planted in 2015 and contains 35 fruit trees, mostly apple – cookers, eaters and cider apples. 2025 was a bumper year and we had a fantastic crop. Damsons were good, too – although few people are used to eating them. We made apple juice, which sold to members very quickly; cider – some 200 bottles of three blends; and members made damson brandy, pickle and many other preserves. We prune lightly in summer and again in late winter. The harvest is a bounty from very little work!
Vegetables
Digging the allotments was our first task back in 2014, to get neighbours involved. Edward and Jean Pritchard did much of the early hard work and have grown wonderful crops including rhubarb, peas and beans, squash and sweetcorn. Nowadays the beds are shared between a dozen members and make a sociable centre – our greenhouse brings on seedlings and produces many tomatoes.
Honey
We have had beehives for years, currently looked after by neighbour and director Mike. Some years we have 200 jars of honey – all snapped up by members. We always leave plenty to feed the bees through the winter; but some years, disease and attacks by wasps take their toll of the hard-working little bees.
Firewood
We have to manage the wood; but we are careful to leave some dead trees standing, and some deadwood lying, both of which are a great wildlife resource, especially for invertebrates. Firewood is quite hard work – felling, cross-cutting and splitting – but it is a valuable product as reward for the members who put in the effort.
Hay
Cultivating the wildflower meadow is a tricky project: we need to remove cut grass, which reduces the fertility and encourages flowers. After ten years, we have got rid of persistent weeds such as nettles and thistles – although docks and hogweed are still too common. We also sowed yellow rattle seed, which reduces the growth of grass.
In 2023 we learnt how to cut the meadow with scythes from a local expert. This means we can rake and turn the cut grass for hay, which went to local horses. We cut towards the end of June, after most flowers have set seed. Sometimes we give a trim in November and February, too, to simulate the grazing which would traditionally have happened.
Baskets
Basketmaking with our willow was always our aim when we planted cuttings of six willow varieties in a wet patch of ground. Many members have engaged with courses and sessions, producing beautiful baskets by traditional methods.