Boarding Orchard

On Thursday 5 September 2019, Eastbourne College became the 156^th boarding school to join the Boarding School Association’s (BSA) ‘Boarding Orchard’ initiative.

The project, launched by the BSA in 2014, aims to create the largest orchard, by distance, in the UK and involves boarding schools (independent and maintained) planting fruit trees in their grounds. The trees symbolise the ‘tree of knowledge’ and demonstrate each school’s commitment to growth and caring for the environment.

Chief Executive of the BSA, Robin Fletcher, visited the College to help spread news of the proliferation of good quality modern boarding schools and the global reach of the Boarding Orchard. Robin himself was a boarder at Rugby School before moving on to become a journalist, award-winning newspaper editor, plc communications director and business owner.

Helping him plant the tree (in the Bursary garden) were a number of appointed Heads of School (head boy, head girl and prefects), Headmaster Tom Lawson and Second Master Cris Symes.

The fruit tree planted at the College is an apple tree of the Cox’s Orange Pippin variety, highly regarded by connoisseurs as having excellent flavour and an attractive appearance. With plenty of light, some top tutoring and regular feeding, Eastbourne College expects the tree to flourish in years to come; much like their pupils.

St Andrew’s Prep was delighted to welcome Robin Fletcher, Chief Executive of the BSA, to the school today.  The school embraced the Boarding School Orchard which Mr Fletcher launched in 2014 and aims to be the largest orchard, by distance, and involves boarding schools planting fruit trees within the grounds of their school.

Under sunny skies, Headmaster, Gareth Jones and Head of Boarding, Mark Tomsett, assisted Mr Fletcher to plant a cherry tree at the front of the school.  Many of the boarding community who had met with Mr Fletcher earlier in the day, also took also took part in the ceremony.

The tree symbolises the tree of knowledge and demonstrates each school’s commitment to growth and caring for the environment.

Mr Fletcher said, “This cherry tree will be here for a long, long time and will be a rich food source for local bees and insects.  I hope that the children gathered here today will come back to St Andrew’s in years to come and see how the tree has grown.”

Headmaster, Gareth Jones said, “We have really enjoyed having Robin here today and having the opportunity to show him our site and boarding provision and to gain from his wisdom and experience.  It’s been a very positive day and we would like to thank Robin for his time.”