New community orchards and micro-woods spring into life across the borough in celebration of the coronation
Posted on: 21 March 2025
Residents and visitors to Tewkesbury Borough will soon be able to benefit from the fruits of new community orchards planted this year thanks to the Coronation Community Orchard Scheme funded by the UK Government.
Volunteers, including children and young people, community organisations and parish councils, teamed up to transform their local parks and green spaces.
The new orchards celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and support local tree planting projects across the borough.
Highnam, Longford, Northway, Transition Cleeve, Tewkesbury Nature Reserve, Winchcombe School, Stoke Orchard, Gretton and Alderton have all planted between 5 and 42 trees, including many different varieties of fruit trees including apple, pear, greengage and cherry.
Mark Oliver, Chair at Gretton Village Association, said: “We’re delighted to be involved with the Community Orchard scheme. Our tree planting brought together our community, and the trees will in time bring interest and habitat to our community space. The trees are all local varieties, build on our heritage as an area of orchards and will provide a source of fruit for our annual ‘Apple Rock’ festival in October.”
Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Lead Member for Climate and Ecology, Councillor Cate Cody, said: “I’m delighted to see these new community orchards come to life all around our beautiful borough. Orchards are a wonderful way to bring communities together, with many social benefits for all ages and backgrounds. Additionally, orchards support biodiversity, provide habitat and improve the natural environment.
“We are committed to tree planting, caring for our green spaces, and to creating opportunities to support health and wellbeing for our residents.”
Funding was made available in 2024 for new or enlarged community orchards in Tewkesbury Borough to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and supports local tree planting projects across Tewkesbury Borough. Gloucestershire Orchard Trust is providing advice about maintaining the orchards.
Find out more about the scheme and funding in our past news story Coronation Community Orchard Grant Scheme – Tewkesbury Borough Council.
