
Welcome to the Oldham Fruit Route
Oldham’s first Fruit Route is a series of mini-orchards, patches of fruiting bushes and foraging sites running along the Lees Linear – a greenway following the old railway line between Alexandra Park and Grotton.
Walk, wheel or cycle along and pick fruit, we’ve got varieties of apple, plum, damson and cherry trees plus blackcurrant, raspberry and blackberry bushes.
We’d love people to use the fruit route as a way to bring people together, be a place where communities can become more connected to food growing and nature and be the start of a fruitful future for Oldham.
Get in touch if you’d like to find out more, get involved or let us know any issues; we want this to be part of a bigger movement for community food growing and sharing and are always keen to listen to your ideas.
We’ve included some guidance about when and how to pick – please help us look after the fruit route and only take what you need.

Our Fruits

Apples
Crisp, juicy and versatile, apples are a favourite autumn fruit. Varieties like James Grieve, Cox’s Orange Pippin and Elstar offer flavours perfect for eating fresh, cooking or juicing.
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Blackberries
Common in hedgerows, blackberries ripen from August to October. Their sweet-tart flavour suits pies, jams and puddings, while providing fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants for seasonal health.
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Blackcurrants
Deep purple Ben Lomond blackcurrants are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Their tart flavour really comes through in jams, pies and juices, harvested from midsummer into August.
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Cherries
These Large, dark-red Stella cherries are self-fertile, sweet and juicy. Harvested in late July, they’re wonderful eaten fresh, baked into delicious pies, or preserved for summer treats.
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Damson & Plums
Sweet plums and tart damsons on our route ripen in summer, perfect for eating fresh or cooking into jams, crumbles and gins. Both Damson & Plums offer heavy crops and rich flavour.
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Pear Conference
Britain’s favourite pear, Conference produces reliable crops even in cooler, shadier spots. Its juicy, aromatic fruit ripens in September, delicious eaten fresh or cooked into desserts.
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Quince
These beautifully Golden quinces ripen in autumn with a sweet floral aroma. Though too hard to eat raw, they transform beautifully when cooked into jams, stews and jellies.
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Raspberries
Summer-fruiting Malling Jewel raspberries are vibrant red with a sharp-sweet flavour. Harvested in July, they’re perfect fresh, frozen, or cooked into jams, desserts and summer dishes.
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