Nature In The Park

[the park in November 2016, a field, trees, Victorian clocktower]

The park is a borough grade 1 nature conservation area, mainly for its woodlands, and offers woodland walks. Extensive tree and shrub planting gives the park its tranquillity and provides habitats for wildlife. In 2010 the Caledonian Park Friends Group planted a small community orchard to add to the biodiversity.

The Friends are responsible for the watering, pruning and general maintenance of the trees. In autumn 2013, the group developed an area of the park as a nature garden, introducing plants and other features attractive to bees, butterflies and birds, a hibernaculum and loggery.

We are hoping to have an updated survey of the trees in the park next year.

Do email or tweet us any pictures of bugs, birds, or wild animals you spot.

Community Orchard

[The Orchard Project Logo] [Edible Islington Logo]

In February 2010 the Caledonian Park Friends Group planted a small community orchard, with the support of The London Orchard Project, Islington Greenspace, and Edible Islington. The Friends are responsible for the watering, pruning and general maintenance of the trees.

There are six varieties of apple trees in the Orchard:

  • Cox's Orange Pippin, an aromatic, sweet dessert apple, which originated in 1825 from Colnbrook London
  • Saturn, a modern dessert apple from Kent, 1980
  • Egremont Russet, a distinctive nutty-flavoured dessert apple from 1872
  • Arthur Turner, a sharp-tasting cooking apple from Berkshire, 1912
  • London Pearmain, a sweet, sharp dessert apple from London and Essex, mid 19th Century
  • Greensleeves, a sweet dessert apple from Kent, 1966

There are two plum trees, both dessert and cooking plums:

  • Victoria plum, a heritage variety originating in Sussex, 1838
  • Marjorie's Seedling plum, from Berkshire 1912

There are two pear trees:

  • Concorde, a dessert pear from Kent, 1977
  • William's Bon Chretien, known as Bartlett in the US. The oldest variety in our orchard, dating from 1770 in Berkshire, this pear can be used for cooking or eaten raw.