It’s simple, by working together, we can create a more sustainable future.
Transition Town Dorchester is a grassroots community project set up to bring people together with the aim of increasing sustainability, reducing our carbon footprint, using resources wisely and protecting the environment, all in an attempt to tackle climate change in our small corner of the world.
We are doing a whole range of activities which we believe contribute to creating a productive and flourishing environment, where both people and wildlife can live together in harmony.
We have a Community Farm, on previously redundant land which now produces lush harvests of fruit and vegetables in our large polytunnel, outside raised beds and small orchard area.
We have two orchards, one adjacent to the farm and one near Dorchester South station, with nearly 200 fruit trees which have matured over the years to bear plenty of fruit.
We have planted a Forest Garden – a self-contained ecosystem, mimicking the structure of a natural woodland, containing plants which interact positively with each other and which are mostly edible, or bee friendly, or nitrogen fixing (or all three!).
We hold Green Drinks on the third Tuesday of every month, where like-minded people gather for a chat about all things environmental.
We have recently helped with opening a Repair Cafe which holds monthly sessions in Dorchester.
Community Farm
Situated on the edge of Poundbury, Dorchester, the Community Farm was the first project set up by Transition Town Dorchester. With support from the Duchy of Cornwall and plenty of hard work, we eventually managed to get this project off the ground.
We now have a farm with an enormous polytunnel and outside raised beds, a few fruit trees and a pond, an orchard with a lot more apple and pear trees, several colonies of bees, a wildlife pond and some geese and hens, and a forest garden.
Farm work days:
Click here for the calendar of farm days
The Community Farm is open to anyone who is interested in joining us. Our main aim is to get together to explore ways of living more sustainably and building a community, through sharing growing space, tools, knowledge, ideas and work, and harvesting produce together.
Railway Orchard
Railway Community Orchard was created on what was an area of overgrown land which we cleared of towering brambles and sycamores, and then planted apple trees and fruit bushes. We dug a small pond and put a place for picnics next to it. We have had apple days here, when we have produced apple juice for people to share, and we have often wassailed our trees in the winter, to ensure a rich harvest in the following autumn.
We sometimes hold workdays at the orchard – Click here for the calendar of work days
Railway Orchard is open to anyone. You will find us along the footpath behind the garages at the eastern end of Monmouth road or from the footpath alongside the railway at the eastern end of Alfred Road (at the back of Dorchester South Station).
