Seven community orchard sites across Wales have recently had trees, equipment, tools and storage delivered as part of a programme of support from the Welsh Government funded Resilient Green Spaces project.

After a rigorous application process, the sites were chosen to be recipients of the first round of support.

The charity is working with sites to pilot, monitor and evaluate the economic benefits that community orchards could provide in addition to well-recognised social and environmental benefits. The project seeks to ignite a positive change in community owned fruit production, storage, processing and fruit-based products for Wales.

The initial trench of successful organisations are: Cae Tan CSA (Swansea), Ysgol Bro Dinefwr (Llandeilo), Summit Good (Swansea), Tir Coed (Rhayader), Lambston Parish Resident’s Association (Pembrokeshrie), The Wilderness Trust (Llanidloes) and Clynfyw Care Farm (Pembrokeshire).

Based in Rhayader, Powys, Tir Coed is a charity that engages people with woodlands through volunteering, training and bespoke activities that increase wellbeing, develop skills and improve woodlands for the benefit of everyone. They work as a partner in the Elan Links Project delivering the experience and education stream of this partnership by providing opportunities to experience the Elan Valley through volunteering, education and training.

Based in Tylwch, Llanidloes, The Wilderness Trust have started a new project – The Hanging Gardens Project – to look at a collaborative way of creating a more resilient and sustainable local community.

They are building a green hub in the centre of Llanidloes, working with all sectors of the community to find solutions to declining biodiversity in the area.

The sites will receive, as well as the trees, equipment, tools and storage, training and professional advice for the progression and development of their Orchards. All the trees supplied were sourced from Welsh suppliers and were grown locally.

Social Farms & Gardens will be opening the second round of applications very soon – for more information contact wales@farmgarden.org.uk or https://www.farmgarden.org.uk/resilient-green-spaces/productive-community-orchards