Derby City Council’s Parks Team has joined with Trees for Cities to create four community orchards. A total of 56 fruit trees have been planted in location across the city.

Around 20 volunteers from Trees for Derby, Abbey Ward Green Spaces Group and local residents from Allestree and Abbey Wards rolled up their sleeves to help with the project.

Twenty trees are now positioned at Quarn Park, while Stockbrook Recreation Ground, Rykneld Recreation Ground and Allestree Park each had 12 trees planted. In total, 150 metres of wire mesh, 168 posts and railings and 672 screws were used to make cages which will protect the trees as they become established.

When the trees mature, they will produce thousands of apples, pears, plums, gages and mulberries for communities to enjoy. The creation of the orchards will transform what were previously areas of closely mown grass into havens for wildlife, promoting biodiversity.

They add to the city’s collection of community orchards, including ones at Darley Playing Fields, Chellaston Brickworks Local Nature Reserve and Millennium Wood.

Councillor Jerry Pearce, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Streetpride and Public Spaces said:

Various community groups told our Parks Team that they would love to see community orchards in their area, so it’s fantastic to see this has now become a reality. We hope citizens will come together to look after the orchards, which are there for everyone to enjoy.

We would like to thank the volunteers who gave up their time to help with the project. They will literally be able enjoy the fruits of their labour when the trees mature.

This project is another example of excellent partnership working between Derby City Council and Trees for Cities.

Trees for Cities, which is the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities, funded the community orchard project.

It is the latest in a series of projects the charity and Derby Parks have worked on together. A previous scheme in 2021 saw a new woodland area planted on Roe Farm Recreation Ground in Chaddesden.

Roddy Shaw, UK Development Manager for Trees for Cities, said:

Trees for Cities are delighted to be supporting Derby City Council with their planting ambitions through these fruit trees. We work nationally to create healthier, greener and happier cities through providing opportunities for residents to plant trees that will create a lasting green legacy for today’s and future generations.

Having already worked together on previous projects in Derby, Trees for Cities is very pleased to continue supporting the Council's planting programme.

Derby Parks also continues to work closely with community charity Trees for Derby on various planting schemes across the city. The organisation aims to plant 250,000 trees in Derby – one for every Derby resident.