Council grants tree wishes
Posted on: 24 October 2024
Tewkesbury Borough Council is to grant tree wishes this autumn for anyone with a dream of creating an orchard. After a successful first phase earlier this year, the Coronation Living Heritage Fund to plant or extend community orchards will be re-opened.
As part of the scheme, non-profit community organisations across Tewkesbury Borough can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that involve the planting of five or more fruit or nut trees and provide a benefit to the community.
Cllr Cate Cody, Lead Member for Climate and Ecology, said: “Following the last round of grant funding, it is very exciting that two new orchards will be created; one in Northway and one in Highnam and that two other orchards will be extended in Bishops Cleeve and Longford.
“Tree planting involving the community is key to humanity’s part in reducing carbon emissions and helping to tackle our changing climate and the issues this brings. I am very much looking forward to seeing other projects benefitting from this excellent initiative as we go into the next round.”
Nick Watson from Transition Cleeve, in Bishops Cleeve, said “We are very proud of our existing community orchard and delighted that we will be able to extend it with 12 new trees through the support of the Coronation Living Heritage Fund. We run community activities in the orchard, including apple pressing, pruning and planting days. We look forward to welcoming more people to our extended orchard thanks to this funding.”
Grant guidelines state that a benefit could include engaging the community in setting up, planting, or maintaining an orchard; or giving the community free access to an orchard on a permanent or occasional basis for leisure and recreation, activities and events or to harvest fruit.
If not fully publicly accessible, the orchard should be accessible to a significant number of people. For example, in the case of schools, an orchard can be planted within school grounds where it can be accessed by school staff, students and visitors.
For more information and to submit your application visit: https://tewkesbury.gov.uk/services/community/coronation-community-orchard-grant-scheme/
