Community Orchards planted across the Ashford borough

A £50,000 grant from the Coronation Living Heritage Fund (CLHF) has allowed hundreds of fruit trees to be planted across the borough to create or expand community orchards.

This unique tree planting initiative was created to mark the Coronation of HM King Charles III with parish and community councils invited to apply for fruit trees. Ashford Borough Council also created and enhanced new and existing orchards on areas of its own open spaces.

A total of 545 trees, which included apples, pears, cherries and plums from a local, family-run nursery, have been planted under the scheme.

Parish and community councils planted 362 trees in: Aldington, Appledore, Bethersden, Biddenden, Great Chart, High Halden, Hothfield, Kennington, Kingsnorth, Repton, Rolvenden, Shadoxhurst, St Michael’s, South Willesborough and Newtown and Tenterden. A further 183 were planted on council-owned open spaces.

Planting took place in January and February and couldn’t have been done without the help of a number of fantastic volunteers from local groups such as Willesborough WI, the Amber Foundation, children from Ashford Oaks Primary School and lots of local residents who came along to take part.

These orchards have been created for the benefit of their local communities who are welcome to enjoy the fruit they will provide over the coming years. Orchards are a fantastic habitat as they also contain grasses and wildflowers and are usually bordered by other trees, hedgerow or scrub. These combine to create wildlife corridors and havens that support a vast range of species. An orchard’s flowers and fruit provide crucial food for pollinators such as bees and butterflies and the insects that live on the trees and any fallen fruit also feed birds and mammals such as thrushes and hedgehogs.

Cllr Kate Walder, Cabinet Member for Parks and Recreation, said: “This fund has been a fantastic way to celebrate the Coronation, aligning with the King’s passion for nature. It supported the planting of hundreds of fruit trees, providing a lasting commemoration for the local communities and wildlife they will benefit.

“We’d like to thank all the parish and community councils who took part in this process and for all the wonderful volunteers who gave their time in helping to plant so many beautiful trees. We look forward to seeing them establish over the coming years and for all the joy and harvest they will provide.”