Hundreds of trees planted to create new orchard

From left, councillor Elaine Marper, Kerrie Prowting, of Winterton 2022, Leah Cave, of Humber Forest, Kayley Rankin, of The Conservation Volunteers, and local rotary club members

Hundreds of trees have been planted in North Lincolnshire as part of a project to develop a community orchard.

More than 80 fruit trees have been planted in Winterton, with a further 450 woodland trees, including oak, silver birch and wild cherry.

The market town is one of 150 areas in England chosen to receive £1m of National Lottery funding to spend on schemes that benefit the community.

It is being led by community group Winterton 2022, with support from the Humber Forest project and North Lincolnshire Council.

Schoolchildren also joined volunteers to help with the planting.

Kerrie Prowting, Winterton 2022 co-ordinator, said: "We are delighted with the number of volunteers who have turned up to help with this.

"We welcome any other volunteers who would like to come forward to help us to plan and implement the next stage, which will include building footpaths, putting in beehives and nesting boxes."

'Community benefit'

The community group has also funded and planted 33 "special heritage" fruit trees.

Leah Cave, Humber Forest partnership manager, added: "While planting these trees is something Humber Forest is really proud of, it is the benefit that these trees bring to the community that really matters."

An 820ft (250m) hedgerow is also being planted to create habitats for wildlife.

Councillor David Rose, cabinet member for environment and strategy at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "Lincolnshire has 18 little-known traditional apple varieties and two plums, so it's great to see heritage fruit tree varieties being brought back into our towns and villages."

The funding was awarded as part of the Big Local project in conjunction with the Local Trust and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

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