Beckhill Community Garden:
Fruit Growing Project
Come and help us grow lots of fruit at Beckhill Community Garden!
Fruit Works & the Beckhill volunteers are running a series of workshops, action days and celebratory events to help you:
care for, expand and enhance the orchard
learn new skills
celebrate with your neighbours
Upcoming events
Apple Day
Thu 29th Oct, 11am - 1pm
This October half-term, join us for Apple Day!
Our young trees may not be fruiting yet, but we will get in the mood by juicing and tasting fresh apples grown elsewhere in Leeds.
All welcome, no need to book.
Orchard Action Day: Tree cages & under-planting
Sat 5th Dec 2026, 10am - 12 noon
New trees have been planted by students from Carr Manor school. We’ll be protecting them with more willow weaved cages.
We’ll also continue our ‘under-planting’ work: planting companion plants around our fruit trees.
All welcome, no need to book.
Wear sturdy shoes!
Fruit Tree Giveaway
Fri 16th Jan - Sat 17th Jan 2027 (Register by 31st Dec 2026!)
If you live on the Beckhill estate in Leeds, you can apply to receive one free fruit tree to plant and grow at home. Make sure you have a suitable spot in your front or back garden, then simply fill out this form by 31 December 2026.
Pruning workshop
Thu 18th Feb 2027, 10am - 12 noon
Learn how to prune young fruit trees to set them up for a healthy future. We’ll learn the theory behind pruning and get some practice by giving the orchard some TLC!
Not very suitable for children — please bring an additional adult to supervise children.
No need to book.
Grafting workshop
TBC Tue 2nd Mar 2027, 6-8:30pm
Learn how to make baby apple trees with the technique of grafting.
Not very suitable for children — please bring an additional adult to supervise children.
No need to book.
Summer pruning workshop
TBC Tue 6th July, 6-7:30pm
We’ll give the orchard trees some TLC and learn the why and how of summer pruning.
Not very suitable for children — please bring an additional adult to supervise children.
No need to book.
Apple Day
TBC October 2027
Making apple juice with the apple press and celebrating the harvest!
Wassail
January 2028
We have reached the end of the fruit growing project and want to wish our trees well for their growing season and their lives ahead!
Join us for an evening of merriment, refreshment and song around the apple trees.
More events TBA. Watch this space as we develop the rest of the project in response to your feedback.
To keep up to date with other events at Beckhill Community Garden, follow the Facebook page.
Past events
Smoothie Bike Day
Thu 16th July 2026, 3-5pm
We’ll be tasting fruit from near and far to get us excited about what’s growing at Beckhill.
Come and make yourself a smoothie on the smoothie bike and find out more about our fruit plans at Beckhill. All welcome, no need to book.
Orchard Action Day: Willow weaving tree cages
Thu 23rd July 2026, 10am - 12 noon
To protect our fruit trees using natural materials, we’ll be weaving cages out of willow from the site. Other tasks are always available too.
All welcome, no need to book.
Wear sturdy shoes!
Workshop: Planting Around Fruit Trees with Pippa Chapman
Tue 11th Aug 2026, 6 - 8pm
Booking required! Spaces are limited on this workshop with food forest expert Pippa Chapman, who will be giving us some guidance on making our fruit trees even more abundant — by planting other edible plants around them.
Apple Day
Thu 29th Oct 2026, 11am - 1pm
This October half-term, join us for Apple Day!
Our young trees may not be fruiting yet, but we will get in the mood by juicing and tasting fresh apples grown elsewhere in Leeds.
All welcome, no need to book.
Why fruit trees?
In towns and cities, our community gardens and home gardens are some of the best places to support nature and grow more of our own food. Planting fruit trees can:
Increase tree cover across the neighbourhood
Provide fresh, healthy fruit for you and your community
Create valuable habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife
Help clean the air and store carbon
Inspire you to grow more food
Build a stronger connection with the natural world right on your doorstep
By participating in this project, you’ll be bringing all of these benefits to Beckhill.
Got any questions? Email us at hello@fruitworks.org.uk
With thanks
This project is kindly funded by the National Lottery Community fund.
