Coronation Living Heritage Fund (CLHF) community orchards scheme in Shropshire

*Please note that the application window for the community orchards scheme is now closed*

We've been awarded a grant of £12,531 for a community orchard project in Shropshire. Any town or parish council, housing association, resident’s group, or school will be able to apply for fruit trees to create their own community orchard.

We need to plant and restore more orchards. 90% of traditional orchards have been lost since the 1950s to neglect or development. Orchards are classified as ‘priority habitats’ by Natural England and Defra, and they're included in the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan.

We have an aim to plant 345,000 trees by 2030. Planting more fruit trees will ‘lock up’ carbon, contributing in its own small way towards our ambition of making Shropshire net zero carbon by 2030.

• Traditional orchards are fantastic for wildlife as they're made up of different habitats, including woodland, hedgerow and meadow grassland
• New community orchards will make the most of valuable underused green spaces for the benefit of local communities
• Community orchards can provide training and learning opportunities for local people about growing fruit and tree care
• Locally produced fruit willl cut food miles and can help tackle the cost-of-living crisis
• Events at orchards such as harvest festivals, wassailing and work parties will help bring local people closer together and build community cohesion
• School community orchards provide excellent educational opportunities on topics such as where food comes from, healthy eating, habitats and wildlife, pollination and cooking lessons

For more information and to make an application, please contact Nick Rowles: nick.rowles@shropshire.gov.uk

CLHF statement about the scheme

“The Coronation Living Heritage Fund supported by £2.5m in funding has been made available through Defra’s £758m Nature for Climate Fund to allow county, unitary, metropolitan, London borough, district and city local authorities the chance to apply for up to two grants for projects ranging between £10,000 and £50,000. The funding will support the development of micro woods and community orchards and commemorate the King’s Coronation. Funds can be distributed across projects in their area.

 

"Through the England Trees Action Plan and supported by the £758m Nature for Climate Fund Defra will help to transform the treescape and the forestry sector helping to put the UK on track to meet net zero targets, reverse the decline in nature and support economic growth.”