Beeson Community Orchard has recently a received a very welcome delivery of a new picnic bench. Monies raised by the villagers, along with funding from Julian Brazil’s locality fund, helped purchase the bench from local business, The Plastic Company. The bench is made from 100 per cent recycled HDPE and was made with 114,268 plastic milk bottle caps making it very durable and long-lasting.

Pete Moore of Forest and Beach and Chair of Beeson Community Orchard Group (BCOG) stated, “Beeson Orchard is a wonderful space for the community of Beeson to enjoy. Personally we are very fortunate to have lived and worked in the village for many years and back in 2011 it was fantastic to help the village obtain Village Green status for the Orchard with the help of Stokenham Parish Council, The South Devon National Landscape (formerly AONB) along with many residents and second home owners in the village.”

The bench is the first part of plans agreed at the recent AGM to improve opportunities for the community to come together through social events and maintenance days, the latter of which to enhance bio-diversity in the Orchard.

Steve Lees of The Plastic Company stated: “We hope the new recycled plastic picnic table is enjoyed by the community for many, many years to come! In addition to the bench, new signs have also been purchased from FutureClient, another local company which will help guide visitors to the Orchard.”