Sun shines, lambs gambol as Lynsted Orchard sculpture is launched.

The weather was glorious on Friday 18th March for the inauguration of  Lynsted Community Orchard’s  oak sculpture/seat.  The feature stood out boldly in the sunshine, specially decked out for the occasion with bright red ribbon.  New-born lambs and their mothers, sheltering under the cherry trees,  looked on with interest as a column of children from Lynsted and Norton Primary School   filed into position by the structure. This was ‘Oak’ class, who, under class teacher Mary Hogbin,  had been directly involved in carving the pictures on the sculpture. Swale and Parish dignitaries, and other guests and parishioners were on hand to witness the cutting of the inaugural tape by pupil Primrose Coulter.

‘The spring weather was the perfect setting for our launch’ said Orchard Group member Bob Baxter ‘ It was grand to have the children involved once again, this time in the final stage of the production of the Orchard centre-piece’.

Will Glanfield, who had masterminded the sculpture, explained that his work  embraced the idea of the regeneration of plants and animals and the ‘upreaching’ of life, combined with the symbolism of a cathedral and a boat. He paid tribute to the keen involvement of all members of the school. John Disney went on to explain how the open space next to the new feature would be used for community activities concerned with the celebration of cherry orchards and the wildlife they contained. Fellow Orchard Group member Julie Barrett reminded parishioners that Blossom Picnic Day (Sunday 17th April), Cherry Day (Saturday 16th July) and the children’s  Halloween Party (Sunday October 30th ) were main events for the Orchard this year.

The sculpture is part of a community Orchard Project funded by the Local Heritage Initiative. 

Bob Baxter