A REASEHEATH College student who was forced to retire due to illness has been recognised for growing a medieval orchard.

Daniel Ackerley, who is studying a Foundation Degree in countryside, conservation and recreation at the Nantwich college, was a runner-up in The Conservation Foundation’s ‘Gardening Against the Odds’ awards.

The annual awards recognise horticultural projects that benefit people who face physical, mental or environmental ’odds’.

Daniel, 46, who retire from his work on off shore oil rigs due to Crohn’s Disease, successfully grows more than 100 fruit trees near the River Dee in Farndon – despite the land being flooded during the winter.

Daniel decided to go ahead with his orchard once he realised a similar scheme nearby had been successful centuries ago despite being regularly flooded.

He said: “Having an underwater orchard might seem a bit strange but the knowledge that it’s worked in the past gave me the confidence to go ahead.

“Basically I’m trying to retain a vestige of medieval field system, which is surrounded by modern agriculture.”

The former engineer planted the two-acre plot with a variety of fruit trees including apples, pears, plums, quince, mulberries, walnuts and hazelnuts, some dating back to Roman times.

He is also growing endangered native black poplar and elm trees, which he is monitoring as part of national programmes to grow disease resistant species.

The Conservation Foundation Director, David Shreeve said: “Daniel is a great example of what the Gardening Against the Odds awards are all about.

“The judges were really impressed with his story and what he is doing.”