Three Counties Traditional Orchard Project development work

Summary of work tasks and progress
Aim	Action	Date for completion	Progress/outputs (as of 16/03/2012)
Understand the size and scope of a three counties project	Make contact with potential orchard project partners through the following 3 actions; 1 - Liaison with potential project partners (owners etc.) through Autumn orchard festivals and events in the three counties.	31st December 2011	Approximately 1200 promotional fliers were distributed at shows and events during the Autumn of 2011, including: The Big Apple at Much Marcle The Autumn Show at the Three Counties Showground The Chase Inn Cider and Perry Festival in Colwall.
	2 - Correspondence (letters, emails etc.) with owners and volunteers involved in recent PTES inventory in the three counties. NB initial correspondence must be via PTES.	Initial contacts by 30th October 2011. Follow-up contacts up to 31st January 2012.	Letters and fliers have been sent to: 183 orchard owners and 40 volunteers who took part in a recent PTES traditional orchard survey.
	3 - Liaison with other potential project partners as appropriate	31st December 2011	Letters and fliers have been sent to: 100 members of the Herefordshire Orchards Network of Excellence (HONE); 300 members of the Gloucestershire Orchard Group for distribution among the GOG members. Meetings to discuss project ideas etc. have been held with representatives from: The National Trust; Heineken; Bulmer Foundation; Weston's; Duchy of Cornwall. Letters have been sent to community liaison officers in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and through them, information about the project will be passed on to parish councils in the three counties.
Identify potential orchard buildings for use/repair and the role and scope of cultural heritage elements within an orchard project.	Liaison with English Heritage and Local Authority County experts on farmsteads (and related buildings) and archaeology, followed up by independent research as required.	15th February 2012	A contract has been let to the Historic Environment Officers in the three counties for work on historic buildings and archaeology of orchards and cider production. Research into identifying orchard buildings in need of repair to protect the heritage, or those which could be used for training, is ongoing.
Understand the current extent of orchard based tourist information/ interpretation.	Research into existing orchard related trail guides and information/interpretation within the three counties	31st December 2011	Information has been collected on the existing orchard tourism and information/ interpretation in the three counties.
Understand levels of interest and capacity for orchard-based tourism within a three counties project.	Research potential for establishing walking and/or cycling trails and for providing access within select orchards.	15th February 2011	Contact has been made with tourism representatives in the three counties. Work is still ongoing to identify possible points of interest for potential orchard walking or cycling routes.
Understand potential levels and sources of match funding.	Liaise with potential public, private and voluntary sector partners.	15th February 2012	Following the submission of an Expression of Interest form to SITA, a complete funding application form will now be drafted for submission.
Prepare draft funding applications	Produce a draft funding application	28th February 2012	Work is continuing on the draft funding application for the Heritage Lottery Fund. A draft has been sent to partners for review.
Submit a well-researched and realistic funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (and possibly others)	Produce a final application for submission by 15th March.	15th March 2012	A funding application is currently being drafted before being reviewed and then submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.