15 Oct 2024
Schools across the district are being invited to bid for a free orchard of fruit trees or strawberry plants.
Since 2022, the Veolia Orchard initiative has delivered 25 fruit trees and 10 strawberry plants to six schools across the borough. This local network is just a small part of a whole family of 1,085 trees and 780 strawberry plants steadily growing at 291 schools across the UK.
The scheme launched in 2022 to give young people a chance to experience the benefits of engaging with nature as well as improving local biodiversity. Building on its initial success, in 2023 it expanded to include strawberry plants, ensuring that urban schools with limited outdoor green space could participate.
Each orchard comprises either five trees or 10 strawberry plants per school, an individual component of a much wider network. Schools can apply online until November 8 2024 using the following link: veolia.co.uk/veolia-orchard.
Successful candidates will hear back after November 25 with deliveries taking place in spring 2025. Schools can opt for an interactive planting event where Veolia’s experts guide students through their planting while educating them on the orchard’s long-term benefits to the community and environment.
Veolia municipal managing director Pascal Hauret said: “The Veolia Orchard scheme is about growing more than just fruit; it’s about cultivating a love of nature in our future environmental ambassadors. I am especially happy to see this initiative continue to flourish in urban schools where there are typically fewer opportunities to interact with the environment. Not only are we boosting biodiversity by introducing new fruit tree species, creating habitats for pollinators, and enhancing the genetic diversity of cities with urban farming, we’re planting the seeds for a more sustainable future.”
SADC strategic director for community and place directory, Chris Traill added: “This is a fantastic initiative by our waste and recycling contractor Veolia which we have been supporting for a few years now.
“I urge the district’s schools to apply as it is a fun way to increase awareness of environmental issues among their young pupils as well as give them the rewarding experience of planting trees, creating habitats and improving biodiversity.”
