COMMUNITY organisations in Malvern can apply for grant funding to plant orchards in honour of King Charles’ Coronation and his love for the natural environment.
Malvern Hills District Council are inviting applications from groups including schools, residents’ associations, community groups, charities, businesses, and parish or town councils to create orchards on private or public land.
Under the Coronation Living Heritage Fund organisations or individuals can apply for between £200 and £10,000 to plant a Coronation Community Orchard.
The aim of the fund is for local community orchard projects to provide a lasting commemoration of this Coronation year, and to further the King’s lifelong work conserving wildlife.
The UK government has provided a total of £2.5 million in funding to local authorities.
Councillor John Raine, portfolio holder for environmental services at Malvern Hills District Council said:
“This is a wonderful opportunity for communities to participate in habitat conservation.
“Tree planting has an important role to play in tackling climate change and it will also help support our ambition to become a carbon neutral district.”
The Coronation Living Heritage Fund has been made available through Defra’s £758m Nature for Climate Fund to allow local authorities the chance to apply for grants between £10,000 and £50,000.
The funding will support the development of micro woods and community orchards and commemorate the King’s Coronation.
Alastair Pounder, biodiversity project officer at Malvern Hills District Council said: “Community orchards are excellent places for people to come together to plant and cultivate a variety of fruit trees and to use the area as a focal point for community activities.
“They contribute to pollinator populations and are an opportunity for schools and the community to learn new skills such as wildlife identification, horticultural skills, and maintenance of the trees”.
Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/clhf for more.
