A new community orchard has been planted in a South Oxfordshire town, part of a district-wide tree planting drive to help tackle climate change.
Around 50 volunteers helped to create Wallingford’s first Community Orchard on Radnor Green, land owned by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC).
With this project the district council is testing out for the first time its new Tree Policy and creating a robust legal agreement with a local community group.
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It is overseen by Friends of Wallingford and Cholsey Green Spaces, a charity working to encourage the creation and maintenance of green spaces in the area.
Dr Sue Roberts, councillor and Wallingford resident said: “We are at a time of climate crisis. It is now that we need to hold together as a community. This little orchard will bring joy and a tiny bit of food, but more importantly it sees people coming together, working for a common purpose.
“These new trees are also Wallingford’s first contribution to the Queen’s Green Canopy for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.”
The planting of 50 trees on Radnor Green is one of many projects that are hoped to take place in this space.
Sam Settle, from Friends of Wallingford and Cholsey Green Spaces said: “This is the first phase for this community orchard.
“We have plans for a children’s play area as well. We also want to develop the scrubby area that runs along the southern border of the Green for wildlife, and we also want to create a wildflower meadow.
“We need help in terms of people who are interested, have energy and ideas, and that would like to join us.”
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Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, this work will play an important role in helping to reduce local emissions.
District councillors are urging more groups, like the Friends, to come forward with proposals for planting trees on council land across the district.
Councillor Peter Dragonetti, Tree Champion at SODC, said: “Trees will play an extremely important role in helping us to reduce our carbon emissions and ensuring the protection of natural habitats, so it’s vital that we increase planting across the district.
“They also provide great benefits for our health wellbeing and can improve the scenery for the local area, so I am really looking forward to seeing more applications in the coming months.”
The council’s Tree Planting policy outlines how it will support local tree planting initiatives as well as how it will protect, plant and manage trees on council land.
The next orchard planting in Wallingford will be on Wilding Road.
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