The fruits of our labour

A volunteering project to create a community orchard delivers real social value

A team from Lotus Landscapes, the landscaping division of Q3 Services, turned out on a blustery spring morning recently, to plant a new orchard in Windsor.

The team all provided their services voluntarily, as it was part of a project to enhance the outdoor community area at Sawyer’s Close, operated by the Abri, one of the south of England’s largest housing providers.

The project, designed and driven by Green Earth Plan, a Community Interest Company (CIC), was instigated to transform an area of grass into a vibrant orchard as part of a broader “Green Up Our Streets” campaign they are promoting across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Green Earth Plan CIC sourced the trees for this project and Lotus Landscapes provided all the tools, heavy equipment, mulch and labour. During the morning, the team planted a total of 19 fruit trees, spanning 17 different varieties, including apple, pear, cherry, plum and quince.

Commenting on the installation, Danielle Lane, Community Development Officer for Abri, said, “We know that the pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing, and getting outside for fresh air and exercise can really help.”

“We’re investing £15m into our communities between 2020-2025 to help improve health and wellbeing, increase employment, and empower our communities. We hope that the community orchard will be something that the whole community can enjoy, enhancing their health and wellbeing, somewhere to bring the community together, and an opportunity to try some new and interesting fruits.”