Highfield Park is located on part of the grounds of two mental hospitals.  Both hospitals had thriving farms, which included large orchards.  The farms provided food for the hospitals and meaningful work for patients.

Apple Juice

The orchards remain a valuable resource providing an income for the Trust.  Each year as many apples as possible are picked from the orchards, these are then juiced at Shenley Park.  Apple Juice is then sold at the Trust annual Apple Day on the first Sunday in October.  It can also be purchased from Charters Health Club and the Trust office for £2.50 per bottle.

It is not possible to make apple juice from bruised apples, therefore windfall apples are not collected by the Trust.  Everyone is welcome to pick up windfall apples.

Unfortunately every year the Trust experiences problems with people picking apples, this ranges from someone taking a bag full to people arriving with ladders, crates and a large vehicle.  It only takes 9 apples to make a bottle of apple juice, therefore by only picking a few apples,  these few people are depriving the Trust of valuable income.   

 Cell Barnes Orchard

The Cell Barnes Orchard is located in the far west corner of the Park.  This orchard was once part of the Cell Barnes Hospital, however it is thought to date back until 1875, where it is shown on an ordinance survey map as part of the Great Cell Barnes Farm.  There is a hedge of small apple trees, the correct term is an arcure, a way of training trees to grow in a specific shape. 

Hixberry Lane Orchard

The Hixberry Orchard is located in the top east corner of the Park, next to Hixberry Lane.  This orchard was once part of the Hill End Hospital.  This orchard contains slightly larger trees, most of which are cooking varieties.  This orchard was used for the filming of a Morrisons TV Advert in 2008.