Tewkesbury Borough Council is running events in Winchcombe, Tewkesbury, and Churchdown in March 2024, to provide information and advice to community groups about a new Coronation Community Orchard grant scheme opening on 1 April.

Gloucestershire Orchard Trust is supporting the events and will provide information and advice about setting up and maintaining a community orchard. The council will provide information about the funding available and will host small tours of community orchards.

The Coronation Community Orchard grant scheme will provide funding to local community groups and town and parish councils to create new community orchards or expand on existing ones, to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and support local tree planting projects across England.

Councillor Sarah Hands, Tewkesbury Borough Council's deputy leader and lead member for clean and green environment, said: "Community orchards are wonderful ways to bring communities together, they provide social benefits to everyone of all ages and backgrounds.

"We are committed to tree planting, caring for our green spaces, and to creating opportunities to support health and wellbeing across our borough.

"I encourage eligible community groups to find out more at the information events and to apply for the community orchard grant scheme when it opens on 1 April."

Event details:

• Abbeyfields Community Centre, Winchcombe: Monday, 18 March, 11am-12.30pm.
• Churchdown Parish Council Offices: Wednesday, 20 March, 10am-11.30am. This event will be followed by an orchard tour at the same location at 11:30am.
• Wheatpieces Community Centre, Tewkesbury: Tuesday, 26 March, 9.30am-11am. This event will be followed by an orchard tour at Tewkesbury Nature Reserve at 11.20am.

The scheme will be open to non-profit community organisations and parish and town councils across Tewkesbury Borough. Community organisations must be a legal entity. Constituted community groups cannot apply.

Applications can be made on the borough council website from Monday, 1 April. The total available funding for this scheme is £23,620, which will need to be spent by March 2025.