City's new fruit orchards set to hit 100 mark

Leeds is set to become the UK city with the most fruit orchards outside London early this year, the council has said.

Starting on Sunday at Armley's Hill Top Moor, the Fruit Works Co-operative, with Leeds City Council, aims to plant seven orchards in January and February, bringing the total number of new sites up to 100.

Members of community groups would plant the trees in a bid to make spaces greener and encourage local residents to grow their own fruit, according to the council.

Simon Rickles, from Armley Common Right Trust, said: "Planting this orchard is a great way to get the community involved in our common land. It's good to be part of a movement growing free fruit for all in our city."

In total, the council and the Fruit Works social enterprise aim to plant nearly six million trees and double the amount of woodland in the city between 2020 and 2045.

As well as the Hill Top Moor orchard, six others, each containing 15 trees, would also be planted in various locations in the city early in the new year, the council said.

They would be at St Peter's in Bramley, Wortley Recreation Ground, Great Preston, Crossgates, Reginald Park in Chapeltown and at Leeds Industrial Museum in Armley.

A spokesperson for the authority said the initiative was "part of the council's ambition, started in 2020, to plant 5.8 million trees as a response to the climate emergency".

The aim was to create an additional 3,089 acres (1,250 hectares) of woodland over 25 years, they added.

Gini Morandi, Fruit Works Co-operative co-founder and director, said: "We work with volunteers all over the city to plant, maintain and use community orchards.

"It's fantastic we've almost reached the 100 milestone - and will keep working towards the goal of everyone being 20 minutes from a community food growing."

Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said the orchards would play an important role in the communities where they were planted, providing fruit and enjoyable green spaces.

"Fruit Works are doing a great job in supporting the local volunteers in planting and teaching them how to care for the trees," he said.

"We're proud to soon officially be the city with the most orchards in the UK outside of London."

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