Keeping South Somerset Orchards Alive

This is a two year project which started in spring 2011 to reverse the decline in our traditional orchards and make them better habitats for wildlife.

Funding has been secured by the Somerset Biodiversity Partnership from the Heritage Lottery Fu Apple Blossom nd ‘Your Heritage’ programme, Somerset County Council and South Somerset District Council. The project area is centred on 28 parishes in a traditional orchard hot spot in the heart of South Somerset.

The Keeping South Somerset Orchards Alive project offers orchard owners advice and training in restoring, managing and planting orchards. Volunteers will be trained to carry out wildlife surveys of orchards and to plant and manage community orchards. New community orchards will be encouraged and events will celebrate our orchard heritage. School children will also discover orchard wildlife. Download our new leaflet explaining the value of orchards for wildlife here.

If you have an orchard in the project area and are interested in free advice and training on managing it, or would like to take part in surveying orchards for wildlife or planting new ones, then we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please contact the project officer Ann Langdon or telephone 01749 676052.

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