The farming industry was very prominant in Collier Street 30 years ago and was the only source of employment. The village consisted of six hop and fruit farms. Each farm had its own cottages to house its workers.

There are few surviving orchards in the area today and this project is conserving and restoring them for the benefit of the local community. The orchards are privately owned, but all the owners have given their permission for access on a programmed visit basis.

This is a two phase project. The first phase of the project is being carried out in the first 2 years of the project. The project is pruning 2,500 trees, but because of the volume of work and degree of expertise required, the work is being carried out by contractors.

However, members of the community are being given professional tuition in the art of pruning so that they can manage the orchards in the future.

There were nine activity days which took place throughout the first year and these raised awareness of apple production. A video record is being kept.

Phase 2 of the project, in the third year, will involve pruning under the guidance of experts, more promotional events, bee-keeping activities and an interpretation of the heritage significance of the orchards. The local school is keen to involve the children in helping prune the trees, collect the fruit and in honey production.