Boarding orchard bears fruit

Published on isbi School News dated Wednesday 18th of March 2015

Lancaster Royal Grammar School is one of the latest schools to join the Boarding Orchard, a nationwide project run by the Boarding Schools' Association. LRGS welcomed BSA National Director Robin Fletcher to the School recently to plant the first tree in the orchard in the grounds of our newest senior boarding house, School House.

Headmaster Dr Christ Pyle said: 'We are delighted to be part of the Boarding Orchard, along with other schools across the UK. The trees will benefit our school in both practical and aesthetic ways. More than that, these new fruit trees are also a symbol of our nurturing intentions as a school.'

LRGS is one of only 38 state boarding schools in England, where education is free to all pupils and only boarding fees are payable. Around a fifth of the 11 to 18-year old pupils at the all-boys grammar school are boarders, most of them weekly. LRGS prides itself on the warm, family atmosphere that characterises boarding at the School.

The School successfully applied for a £250 grant from the Green Partnership Awards, which supports environmental projects in Lancashire. This funding has enabled the School to extend the orchard across all four boarding houses. Having sought advice from the South Lakes Orchard Group on what varieties would grow best in the different locations, boarding staff have chosen traditional, local orchard varieties. Storey House, home to the junior boarders, has planted a Conference Pear, Victoria Plum and Discovery Apple; the older boys in School and Ashton House have planted the same varieties, with the addition of Duke of Devonshire Apple.

Visit the LRGS website www.lrgs.org.uk