News – The Orchards Park

Click a news post to read more and see photos.

Meadow in full bloom
4th August 2023
This summer we have participated in the David Bellamy Blooming Marvellous Pledge. The meadow looks stunning this year. A photo kindly taken by a resident.

Defibrillator
16th June 2023
A defibrillator was kindly donated and has now been installed at the park. A training and awareness course was held in a marquee on the field led by a LIVES trainer and attended by residents

King’s Coronation
13th May 2023
A lovely afternoon tea was held in honour of our new King, and was enjoyed by all those who attended. Thank you to all the helpers which make these events a success.

£1200 Donated to LIVES
10th December 2022
During 2022 £1,200 was raised and donated to LIVES (Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service). This brings the donations made by the park to LIVES to over £18,000 since 2000.

Meadow Mowed
26th July 2022
The meadow was mowed yesterday by a local farmer and was bailed today to make hay. 17 big bales of quality meadow hay. By removing the grass, it encourages more spring meadow flowers next year.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
13th June 2022
The residents celebrated the Queens Platinum Jubilee in style by throwing a Garden Party in her honour. A beautifully decorated Victoria sponge cake made by a resident together with other homemade sweets went down a treat with the bubbly. The DJ’s festive music got many of us dancing.

New Woodland Planted
13th March 2022
A new area adjacent to the current woodland has been planted in hazels and silver birch. A chair has been located so people can sit and rest a while. In total, 50 more native trees have been planted this year. We have also sown wildflower seeds and planted daffodil bulbs around each hazel.

Donation to LIVES
12th January 2021
Through 2020 the residents took part in lotteries and gave donation for LIVES and generously raised £600 which The Orchards Park has matched and made a donation of £1200. LIVES have over 700 Community First Responders and over 70 Medic Responders across Lincolnshire, all of them volunteers.

21 Years David Bellamy Gold Award
24th August 2020
We have been awarded another Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award, the residents have been busy in the garden planting bee and insect friendly plants to make The Orchards an oasis of insects and birds. We have now achieved 21 years consecutive Gold Awards, the only residential park in the country.

ANOTHER LIVES DONATION
11th June 2020
The residents and the park have donated another £2000 to LIVES (Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service). £1,000 of this was from the generosity of the residents through the monthly lottery and other kind donations and this was matched by The Orchards Park Residential Limited. The Park has now donated more than £15,000 to this vital local charity

20th David Bellamy Gold Award
9th November 2019
20 Years of David Bellamy Gold. The Orchards park gained it’s 20th consecutive award for conservation. We were also awarded the Woodlands Conservation, Going Green Together and the Bee Friendly park. Comments included “I am pleased that you continue to have such a strong commitment to all things environmental” “The pitch size is very generous which allows the residents plenty of space to flex their green fingers” “There is a great variety of shrubs and plants in the gardens which provide an additional habitat for wildlife” “The woodland and meadow paths allow residents to have easy access around the site and is unsurprisingly, very popular”

New trees
9th February 2019
26 tree saplings have been planted around the perimeter of the field to continue our commitment to the environment. These include a grove of native beech trees which have been kindly donated, and in a few years will provide a habit for butterflies and birds. Other trees planted include hazels, larch and spindles.

Environmental and Charitable work
15th December 2018
The park continued its environmental and charitable work, recycling thousands of green milk bottle tops helping local charities, planting more trees, and bee friendly plants in our gardens. We continued to raise money for LIVES (Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service) through the lottery and donations of rhubarb, fruit, tomatoes, flowering plants and books.

David Bellamy Gold Award
9th November 2018
We have been awarded another Gold Award. David Bellamy wrote to say “it gives me great pleasure to let you know that your park has been awarded a Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award for 2018/19, I’d like to take this opportunity to say “thankyou” for all the hard work you’ve put in. The residents have lovely gardens with a wide range of flowers, trees and shrubs.” This year as part of the external assessment we were awarded the Wildflower Habitat Badge.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
22nd July 2018
As per recommendation from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, we organised a local farmer to cut and bail the meadow. The purpose of this is to reduce the nutrients on the meadow, which then encourages more wildflowers the following year. Eighteen large bales of top quality hay have been made.

Hedgehog Hotels
9th February 2018
We have built 5 Hedgehog hotels from recycled materials we had on the park. They have been given to residents to provide accommodation to our spiky friends.

David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award
26th November 2017
The Orchards Park has won another year of the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award, making 18 consecutive years. The Park is independently visited and assessed each year to establish whether it is to be awarded Gold. It is the consistent efforts of everyone on the park that helps achieve the award through gardens, comments and pictures. David Bellamy commented “Let me take this opportunity to thank you and your team for all the hard work you have put in to make your park a real haven for wildlife and to go the extra mile to ensure that it is sustainable and a good neighbour to the local community. I am delighted that your residents thoroughly enjoyed making bird boxes and I look forward to hearing how successful they are! Of all the wonderful projects you’ve put in place, I am particularly impressed by your wildflower banks; they sound amazing. Let me finish by saying “congratulations” once again on your achievement”

Safe place to Live
26th July 2017
The Orchards Park is within North Kesteven District Council area, and it has retained its title as the safest place to live in England and Wales for a fourth year running. Figures for the 12 months up to last April show that as a proportion of population size, there were fewer crimes committed in the area than anywhere else in the country

ANOTHER LIVES DONATION
26th March 2017
We have raised a further £1000 for LIVES (Lincolnshire Intergrated Voluntary Emergency Services) with the ongoing support and help of the residents. This brings the total donated by the park and residents to £13,000. We asked residents to choose what the £1000 goes to • LIVES Ruskington new Responders Training • LIVES medic “covert blue lights” fitted to a car • Training to provide advanced care by Senior Medics The votes were cast and the majority of replies favoured the further £1000 being spent on training for six more First Responders who are local to the Ruskington area. An afternoon tea party was held in March to introduce the new responders and a senior member of LIVES gave us a talk on “What happens after an emergency call is made?”

Birds Nests
26th February 2017
The Residents have been very busy making a total of 24 bird boxes ready for a variety of birds who will hopefully make them their home this spring. Everyone said they enjoyed making the nest boxes and these were available to anyone who wanted one for their garden. Spare boxes have been distributed around the adjoining meadow. A group photo was taken of the box builders and this in turn had been featured, with a write-up in the Park Homes Magazine for March. LIVES (Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service) The votes have been cast and the majority of replies favoured the further £1000, raised for LIVES, being spent on training for six more First Responders who are local to the Ruskington area. An afternoon tea party is scheduled for March to introduce the new responders. A senior member of LIVES will also give us a talk on “What happens after an emergency call is made?”

DAVID BELLAMY CONSERVATION GOLD AWARD – 17 YEARS
11th November 2016
The Orchards park has won another David Bellamy Conservation Award with the help and enthusiasm of the residents and is the only Residential Park in the UK to achieve 17 consecutive years. Comments from the assessor this year included • “a really lovely park” • “a green and pleasant place to live” • “the gardens around the homes are very well established & colourful”

Tree and Bulb planting
26th February 2016
We have planted another 50 trees in the meadow to continue to add to the variety and interest. We have also re-planted the main entrance, removing the old conifers and planting over 20 berried, variegated hollies, nearly 1000 daffodils and laying turf.

David Bellamy Conservation Awards – Another Gold Award
19th October 2015
A really big “Thank you” for everyone on the Orchards Park as we achieved an unrivalled 16th consecutive Gold David Bellamy Conservation Award, comments from the assessor include • “the Residents gardens are all well managed and full of flowers and attract a lot of wildlife” • “the overall impression is of an attractive well tendered residential park with mature gardens and completely litter free” • “I cannot fault the existing management and therefore, only have one additional recommendation for the site “Well done indeed”

Willow
26th June 2015
In the meadow around a south facing seat, we have created a living Willow sculpture. We intend in the years to come to continue to develop it.

New Cards for Lives
26th May 2015
One of our talented residents has been inspired by the meadow and has painted a selection of meadow flowers which we have used on cards and had printed. All proceeds from the sale of the cards goes to LIVES.

Dexter Arrives
26th March 2015
We held an afternoon tea party for LIVES (Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Services), which included a 45th Birthday cake, complete with their logo. LIVES is our nominated charity and Ellie, the Ruskington paramedic gave a talk on her duties and equipment. Our £1200 donation from the Residents purchased the mascot (Dexter) which will help in collecting further donations. The remainder of the money was used to purchase equipment needed in the Ruskington area. Many of the Residents also had their photo taken with the 7foot tall Dexter. The park has now donated over £12,000 to LIVES. LIVES medically train locally based volunteers who aim to be with patients within 5-6 minutes of a 999 call.

Park Rules
26th December 2014
Our new park rules (PDF document) have now been completed after consultation with the residents, and are now with North Kesteven District Council and on their website.

Meadow development
26th November 2014
As part of a way to develop the meadow and increase the floristic diversity in the woodland area we decided to plant 1000 blue bells with the help of residents.

David Bellamy Conservation Awards – 15 years
26th October 2014
We thank everyone for their help to achieve our 15th year of consecutive Gold’s with David Bellamy. We have now received our formal report and some of the comments included – “the residents gardens are all well managed and full of flowers and attract a lot of wildlife” – “the overall impression is of an attractive well tendered residential park with mature gardens and completely litter free”

Duck!
26th July 2014
One of our residents has had a mother duck making use of their shed roof as a nesting ground. The ducklings needed a good bit of encouragement by mum to make the big jump out of the nest! But all are doing fine and finding the various ponds on the park for their swimming lessons.

World War 1
26th April 2014
In the meadow we have sown a large area of seeds with native annuals in our national colours of Red, White and Blue as a mark of respect for the centenary of the start of WW1. We have put a seat nearby to enable us to sit and reflect on the influences this has had on our families over the years.

DAVID BELLAMY 14TH GOLD AWARD
26th December 2013
We have again been awarded a David Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation. We are the only residential park to have gained the award for 14 consecutive years. Residents comments, cards and pictures played an important role in gaining our award and it is through the consistent efforts of everyone on the park that we earn the award. Extract From David Bellamy Letter “I am writing to congratulate you and your team on your fantastic gold award. You should be very proud of the work you have done to help Britain’s wildlife – which, as you know, needs all the help it can get at the moment. Having read through your assessment, I’d just like to say that I am particularly impressed by the effectiveness of your butterfly garden and by the fact that your owners’ gardens are well looked after and attract a lot of wildlife. Give them all a cheer from me.”

Age UK coffee morning
3rd November 2013
We organised a special briefing with Age UK Kesteven for the Residents of the park on the support services which are available to them in south Lincolnshire. The well attended briefing was delivered by support experts Teresa Stevens and Nicky McNulty, they outlined ways in which the charity assists older folk including services such as help in the home, advice on staying fit and healthy, meeting new friends.

Open Weekend
26th June 2013
We held a successful Open Weekend receiving positive comments on the parks location, setting and layout.

First Responders
25th November 2012
As First Responders become more qualified, they are able to attend call outs that involve children and babies. The money has purchased a junior resuscitation mannequin, Charlie, as well as two baby resuscitation mannequins, Freddy and Fredericka. These training aids will be beneficial in training the different techniques used in treating children and babies. It is reassuring to know that there will be more LIVES First Responders able to attend incidents where children and babies are involved. Any remaining money went towards new uniforms for the group. The residents and owners of The Orchards Park have raised over £11,000 since April 2000 for LIVES. There are now two LIVES First Responder groups in Ruskington. All the money raised in an area goes to the local group. Some of the LIVES volunteers are looking towards a career in medical professions. If there are sufficient First Responders to man the rota, a 999 call will also activate the local First Responder volunteer. They arrive in a very short space of time with a defibrillator, oxygen as well as other equipment. It is reassuring to have them in attendance, knowing that, if necessary, they will use the equipment to help to keep the patient alive until the ambulance and paramedics arrive. Sometimes it is difficult for them to find the property. PLEASE HAVE YOUR HOUSE NUMBER CLEARLY VISIBLE FROM THE ROAD. If at night, please put all lights on to attract attention. EVERY SECOND COUNTS in saving a life. If you are interested in volunteering for any LIVES First Responders group, please contact LIVES HQ telephone 01507 525999.

DAVID BELLAMY 13TH GOLD AWARD
25th November 2012
Thank you to everyone who completed cards. We are one of only two residential parks to have gained the award for 13 years. They play an important role in gaining our award, and the photographs showed how everyone cares. Gaining our 13th Gold award shows that it is the consistent efforts of everyone that earns the award. Buzzards have been seen catching rabbits in the meadow, and then dining in gardens! Due to the wet weather we were let down by the local farmer cutting the hay. Bob and Mack walk round the meadow most days. He has kindly agreed to write a quarterly newsletter. We hope that you are encouraged to walk and experience the sights and sounds of the visitors in the meadow. “On my regular daily walks round the country park, winter can be seen to be slowly overtaking autumn. The leaves on the trees are almost gone and the bird song is almost non-existent. The field fare have arrived back on the park from their summer sites across the North Sea, they will spend the winter feeding here until they return there in the late spring. They are very noisy with their “cha-cha-chack” call as they fly away. Our regular green woodpeckers often greet me with their laughing calls as I disturb them on my walk around the park with Mack. Whilst quite a rare bird in a lot of areas, we are very lucky to have 3 or 4 green woodpeckers that live on the park and feed on the ants and larvae. The quietness of the park is also broken by the chatter and squabbling of large families of long tailed tits, which I believe gather together in the winter and huddle together for warmth. The buzzards have really settled in our area and are hunting quite low whilst being harassed by rooks, crows and even seagulls attacking them. With the onset of spring the rabbit population grew, however the young rabbits will fall prey to the buzzards and keep down the rabbit population naturally. It is wonderful to see the buzzards soar up into the sky on a thermal, giving out its shrill, mewing cry of “pee-oo” Bob

IT’S OFFICIAL!! ONE OF THE BETTER PLACES TO LIVE
25th January 2012
Ruskington is situated in the area covered by North Kesteven District Council. It is reassuring that the quality of life that we enjoy and have come to expect, has been recognised in a recent survey by the Halifax Bank relating to the quality of life throughout the country. The bank has listed district areas on a number of criteria relating to quality of life. North Kesteven District Council is ranked 36 out of the top 50 and is the only area of Lincolnshire included. It is the most northerly of only four districts away from the south or east of England. The report is based chiefly on the quality of the housing market, health, jobs, crime and education. North Kesteven performed well due to the low incidence of burglary (the 8th lowest of the 50 areas), ease of traffic movement, housing size, quality and cost, low population density (only Rutland having a lower figure), good employment rate, small primary school class size, and high academic achievements at GCSE. As our brochure says- ”Discover for yourself the hidden qualities of Lincolnshire and enjoy a slower pace of life.”

David Bellamy Awards 2011
25th October 2011
The Orchards Park is proud to announce that we have been awarded Gold in the David Bellamy Conservation Awards for the twelfth consecutive year.Granted only to parks which have demonstrated a sound commitment to the natural world, the David Bellamy Conservation Awards are described by Professor Bellamy as the ‘Green Olympics’ – and only go to parks which help protect and enhance the natural environment. Professor Bellamy commented: “Parks like this are creating wildlife wonderlands, and its time they were given well-deserved recognition for their environmental commitment.”

LIVES
25th June 2011
Two of our talented residents are raising money for LIVES (Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Services). Dorothy has designed and painted a card that shows the birds that visit her garden, and Jean’s poem below: Trees and Shrubs a plenty, flowers by the score, Butterflies and bumblebees, who could ask for more? Bird song in the morning, through until it’s dark, Just some of the many pleasures, of life on THE ORCHARDS PARK… All proceeds go to LIVES First Responders. Since the year 2000, the Residents of The Orchards have raised £10,000.