The Orchard Project

@theorchardproject

The only national UK charity dedicated to creating, restoring and celebrating urban community orchards.

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The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· 4d

Just a few weeks left to apply for our free Consultant Development Programme! We are particularly keen to hear from bi-lingual Cymraeg speakers, as this year's focus is on Wales and SW England. Apply before 15 August 2026 👉 www.theorchardproject.org.uk/community-or... #CommunityOrchards #GreenJobs

A woman arranges 3D wooden models trees on a map, with others talking in the background slightly out of focus.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· 6d

Having healthy trees in a heatwave is no easy task. In #Wales, orchardists at Kenfig National Nature Reserve have protected the soil around their trees with water retaining mulch mats, under the guidance of our project manager Witchhazel. 👏 #CommunityOrchard

Scorched grass from heat with apple trees in cages

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· 10d

🌿 Have your say about our communications and how community orchards are doing in your area and be in a draw for a £30 gift voucher from Hetty's Herbs 👉 form.jotform.com/261464748497... #CommunityOrchards

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· 14d

We're bringing together fruit growers in #Glasgow to create a city where everyone feels part of nurturing and harvesting community trees. Find out more: www.theorchardproject.org.uk/news/creatin... 📷️ J Earl @futurewoodlands.bsky.social

Two men pouring apple pulp into a bucket under a gazebo with apple and pear bunting hanging above

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· 18d

Research from University of Reading has shown that forest garden systems support beneficial insect biodiversity and lead to better apple crops. Our project manager Witchhazel takes us on a tour of the forest garden we established at Cae Tân near Swansea. #ForestGardens

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· 22d

Whose mouth is watering just at the thought of eating these berries?! Our training co-ordinator Sarah shares why she loves this time of year in our latest blog: www.theorchardproject.org.uk/blog/in-cele... #FoodForests #Permaculture #CommunityOrchards

Hand holding a glass jar full of red wild strawberries against a backdrop of comfrey and daisies

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· 24d

Cities can be very overwhelming places, particularly for neurodivergent people. Inspired by a recent article in The Developer, by Urban Movement’s Christopher Martin, we’ve been reflecting on how urban orchards can help to create cities planned and designed with #neurodiversity in mind. 👇️

Text reads: Sensory softness:
Using fruit trees and perennial plants as buffers to busy streets adds a sense of calm and softness. Shrubs and trees can make loud city sounds appear more muted. Visual noise and glare from harsh sunlight are also reduced with tree canopies.

Text reads: Tree-lined transitions:
Quick transitions from a quiet environment to a busy one can be overwhelming for neurodivergent people. Green street borders including paths lined with fruit trees can create shaded walking routes, gently easing the nervous system into busier environments.

Background image shows a wide pavement lined with cherry trees in blossom.

Text reads: Spaces for refuge:
If a person becomes overwhelmed in the middle of a city, where can they go to self-regulate? Community orchards nestled within cities are safe havens for humans and wildlife alike. Defined spaces to pause and sit in the shade of a fruit tree reduces sensory demands on an overworked nervous system.

Background image shows an urban orchard full of trees and flowers.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· 28d

Long, hot summer days can take their toll on us if we don’t keep well hydrated, and the same can be said for our fruit trees 🥵 Check out our handy guide to helping young trees thrive during a heatwave 👉 www.theorchardproject.org.uk/guides_and_a... #CommunityOrchards #HeatWave #Mulch

A man using a red watering can on a new tree and the words 'hot weather tips - fruit trees'

A child with a watering can watering a tree with blossom on and 'water wisely'

A pile of woodchip with 'mulch more' over

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jul 10

Certificate in Community Orcharding Course (CICO) students recently met at the Lush Greens #Bristol site. They enjoyed summer pruning, orchard design & some plant guild matchmaking! Sign up for our next course here 👉https://www.theorchardproject.org.uk/events/certificate-community-orcharding-bristol

Three people in an outdoor classroom looking at a map with 3d wooden fruit trees on.

A group of people looking up at a plum tree to decide where to prune

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jul 6

This #PlasticFreeJuly we’re looking at the ways we can reduce plastics in #communityorchards. One of our favourite swaps is to ditch plastic tree guards in favour of willow or re-usable metal protection. Where young trees are in danger of damage from animals or passers-by, metal guards are best 🛡️

Two orchardists use a metal wire mesh to create a guard around a newly planted fruit tree.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jul 3

Great to attend the #FeedingBritain conference in Newcastle today to understand more about how we can help towards creating a more resilient food system.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jul 2

Last chance to nominate an amazing #CommunityOrchard volunteer: deadline 16 July. They simply need to be involved in an orchard we've helped to improve or create and willing to have their photo and first name shared on our comms channels. 👉 form.jotform.com/261472033112...

Two women in orchard settings smiling at the camera with 2025 Community Orchard Volunteers of the Year above.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jun 29

🌳 Are you passionate about orchards, communities and sharing your skills with others? Applications are now open for The Orchard Project's free Consultant Development Programme 👉 www.theorchardproject.org.uk/community-or... #CommunityOrchards #TrainingOpportunity #SouthWales

One person examining an old apple tree in winter to determine where to prune while another looks on

Three people in an orchard in winter with pruning tools in hand

Group of orchardists in a winter orchard with pruning tools in hand

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jun 25

It’s #InsectWeek! 🦋 Insects are orchard companions & can be stunningly beautiful, like this rare noble chafer beetle🪲. All insects are important to orchard ecosystems - the most biodiverse orchards are also the most resilient. What's the most interesting insect you've seen at a community orchard?

A green and bronze coloured Noble Chafer Beetle in an orchard on a cluster of small white flowers.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jun 21

The summer solstice is here!🌞 British farmers are said to have picked bunches of St John’s wort at midsummer, treated it with smoke & hung it to protect farms against evil spirits. St John’s wort is a wonderful plant for forest gardens, as seen in the medicinal herb bed at Cae Tan in Swansea. 🌻

Close up photo of perennial herb St John's wort. The plant has bright yellow flowers with five petals.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jun 20

Today's the start of #LondonClimateActionWeek (20-28 June) showcasing real-world climate action and ‘cooperation in a fractured world’. Our favourite type of climate action is, of course, community orcharding, where working together has huge positive impacts. #CommunityOrchards

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jun 13

We're on a ‘reset week’ from 15-21 June, where all staff take a break as part of the charity’s commitment to wellbeing, "giving the whole organisation a chance to pause - a bit like the resting period trees have over winter" - CEO Kath Rosen. #CommunityOrchards 📷️ Frauke Riether/Pixabay

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jun 9

We love brambles for their many biodiversity benefits, but sometimes they need to be checked back a bit, such as this one swamping a young apple tree at Bryn y Don Park orchard in Swansea! #CommunityOrchards

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jun 5

Today, #WorldEnvironmentDay 2026 focuses on climate change, on the urgent signs the Earth is sending and what we choose to do in response. The UN Environment Programme’s global campaign calls on all of us to step in #NowForClimate. One way to act now is to join your local community orchard. 🍐

Two women crouch on the ground to move soil by hand to their newly planted fruit tree.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· Jun 1

Nominate an amazing #CommunityOrchard volunteer who goes above and beyond this #VolunteerWeek (1-7 June). They simply need to be involved in an orchard we've helped to improve or create & willing to have their photo & first name shared on our comms channels. 👉 form.jotform.com/261472033112...

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 31

This image says a lot. Planting a fruit tree in our towns and cities shouldn't be a radical act, and yet it still feels like it a lot of the time. Let's normalise making our urban spaces more resilient to our changing climate 🌍️! #HeatwaveUK #CommunityOrchards

A thermometer with a reading of 40.4 in full sun and 28.4 in the shade. The text says - same community orchard, same time and day but one in full sun and one under a damson tree

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 29

In a heatwave, trees in containers need extra TLC as the soil can dry out more quickly, especially in urban areas. Danygraig Primary School in Swansea (pictured) is making sure they water their trees well 💦 👉 www.theorchardproject.org.uk/guides_and_a... #CommunityOrchard #Heatwave #UrbanOrchard

Two primary school children water a young fruit tree that is planted into a tall wooden raised planter. They are using bright red watering cans.

Teachers and young pupils stand around the young fruit tree they have just planted into a raised planter.

Primary school pupils spread woodchip mulch by hand around their newly planted tree.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 27

Can you imagine a future where #CommunityOrchards play a prominent role in improving food system resilience, biodiversity, and social equity? That's the basis of our new 5yr plan launched today (27 May): Read more here 👉 www.theorchardproject.org.uk/news/inspiri...

Front cover of the Strategic Plan 2026-2031 with a family group planting into the ground with flats in the background, alongside smaller images of a person carrying an olive tree in a pot and a quince hanging on a tree.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 25

We had an amazing time at #RHSWisley for the first session of our new Certificate in Community Orcharding Course (CICO) 😊 Based in the new Greener Skills Garden, we're just a few minutes' walk from the beautiful veteran orchard & World Food Garden. 👉 www.theorchardproject.org.uk/what-we-do/c...

Students id trees, walking along a path with wooden clad buildings in the background

A woman in glasses holds up a map showing red dots of local apple cultivars

A man in a hat identifying a cherry tree with help from a book

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 22

Read all about how Witchhazel and the team at Cae Tan, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project in Swansea, designed, planned and created a pond for their community forest garden here 👇️ www.theorchardproject.org.uk/blog/how-to-... #CommunityOrchard

Two orchardists dig the ground to make a pond. They are covered in mud. They are shovelling soil into trug buckets and transporting the soil with wheelbarrows.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 22

On International Day for Biological Diversity, we want to celebrate one of the best ways you can bring biodiversity to your orchard or garden. A pond! In our new blog, our project manager Witchhazel takes us through a step-by-step guide to designing, planning and creating your own wildlife pond.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 21

🌱 Today is #OutdoorClassroomDay! We’re celebrating with the launch of our new schools resources, designed to make it easier for teachers and home-schoolers to take learning outdoors. Explore them all here 👉 www.theorchardproject.org.uk/school_lesso... #CommunityOrchards 📷️ Cal Holland

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 18

Look at how the Stoneyfields Park #CommunityOrchard is getting on! This lovely new community orchard was planted in Barnet, London back in February. Volunteers have been taking excellent care of the trees. Our team returned to the orchard last month to help add some herbs & flowers to the site. 🌱

People gathered at Stoneyfields Community Orchard. The orchard is in an open grassy area in a park surrounded by mature trees and shrubs. Some people are stood next to young fruit trees. Others are kneeling on the ground planting herbs.

A young woman kneels on the ground by a young fruit tree, showing a child the roots of a plant that has been removed from its pot, ready to plant in the ground.

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 15

When our staff team meet in person once a year it's a real joy to share ideas & catch up on everyone's news over a real cuppa rather than a virtual one! This year we came to the North East, a real hub for community food growing. Here's 11 of the 17 staff who attended enjoying a community garden.

Group of people in an orchard smiling at the camera

The Orchard Project@theorchardproject· May 14

If you're in #Wigan with some spare time today (Thursday), come help us plant a forest garden in Diggle Park!