Horfield Organic Community Orchard

Welcome to
Horfield Organic Community Orchard
growing fruit, community, learning, and wellbeing since 1998

Horfield Organic Community Orchard (HOCO) is an inspiring, pioneering, local food project that put down roots 28 years ago on an allotment site behind HMP Bristol. The orchard is home to more than 80 different fruiting trees. It was planned to show that local grown fruit can be eaten and enjoyed all year round.

HOCO is a grassroots example of resilience in a world living with climate chaos. We are adapting the ways we care for our trees to meet serious challenges to food production now, and for the future. Do you care about the future of food growing? Join us as a Friend of the Orchard to support our work. Join us as a Harvest-share member and take action with others on the ground.

HOCO hosts pruning and fruit tree care courses, offers workshops and training for members, and taster sessions at events. Hands-on learning activities are developed and led by Shannon Smith, an experienced orchard grower and community educator. Find out more: Orchard Learning 2026

Growing Season Fruit Tree Pruning courses

Is your tree all leaf and no fruit? Does it crop every other year? It is an easy-to-manage size? Growing season pruning can help all these conditions.

Pruning Fruit Trees in the Growing Season – an introduction

  • Growing Season Pruning for Beginners: Saturday 1 August
  • Late Growing Season Pruning for Beginners: Sunday 13 September

Pruning Fruit Trees in the Growing Season – for Improvers

  • Growing Season Pruning for Improvers : Sunday 2 August

Places are limited and must be booked in advance.
Fees are discounted for HOCO members.
Find out more: Orchard Learning 2026

Know your apples?

The Apple Tree Lady is available to identify mystery apples when the fruit is in season. She is offering the service for a £10 donation (for each variety). Donations are for the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), and/or HOCO. Use this form to Ask the Apple Tree Lady to eye-d mystery apples

Read more about HOCO and the fruit we grow in the Orchard.
See photographs of our beautiful orchard in the Gallery.

All are welcome to our community celebrations and public events. We Wassail in January, invite you to enjoy our Summer Orchard Open Day in June, and celebrate the harvest at Apple Day in October.

The orchard is cared for by Harvest-share members, who are active volunteers. Members look after the trees, site and structures. They also organise projects, seasonal celebrations and do the admin that helps the group and the orchard to thrive.

Join as an active Member for hands-on learning about fruit growing, green exercise in a beautiful space, and a share of the delicious fruit.

Harvest-share ‘divi’ day – October 2019
Apple Day 2022 – cutting apples for juicing

Friends of HOCO support the orchard with their membership subscriptions, donations, and help at events. HOCO Membership is open to individuals, households and organisations. Join us to support local, community food growing.

The orchard is home to The Apple Tree Lady. Get in touch with this home-grown fruit tree and orchard expert here to arrange a visit to your garden, allotment or community growing project.

Read about HOCO and Join us to turn Bristol into an Orchard city.

Read about the orchard here

See Gallery of photos

Find the orchard here

Contact Us

Growing season pruning workshop – 2018
HOCO Wassail, January 2024 – tying clouties to the Old Apple Tree
Preparing the Home Orchard Plot – 2016
Pressing juice at a Working Meeting