Pennsbury Manor is prepping for some site improvement thanks to a $5,000 grant from The McLean Contributionship trust.
The funds, which were awarded to the Pennsbury Society, will go on to support the Orchard Project at Pennsbury Manor in Falls Township.
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The Orchard Project is an ongoing effort to plant and maintain an interpretive orchard at William Penn’s late 1600s estate along the Delaware River. The completion of this interpretive orchard will expand upon the educational opportunities offered at the historic site and fulfill The Pennsbury Society’s mission to “interpret the life of Penn” through historically correct representation of the landscape, natural environment and uses of the orchard at that time period, according to officials.
Mike Johnson, Pennsbury Manor’s Historic Garden Interpreter, will spearhead the project which will be implemented in several sections of the estate, including the Kitchen Garden, the wooded areas and the nature trail.
According to Johnson, the funds will create a mini-orchard amongst acres of pre-existing orchards and will contain some of the same type of fruit trees that were grown in Pennsylvania in William Penn’s time. The grant will also enable Pennsbury Manor to re-introduce some of the native fruit trees and shrubs to the surrounding wooded areas.
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Some of the possible fruits include apples, peaches, paw paws, pears and blueberries.
Besides the gardening program, Johnson said he hopes the orchard will connect with other programs at Pennsbury Manor (cooking, beekeeping, cider making, beer brewing, school tours) once installation starts sometime this spring. Some of the project, however, will be done in phases because of plant availability, conditions (temps, heat, humidity), proper planting times and site preparation.
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The McLean Contributorship, which was established in 1951, awards resources to projects in the Greater Philadelphia Area that it believes will enhance to lives of those living there.
