King's Coronation orchard: Banbury volunteers wanted to plant trees

Once the trees have grown, people will be able to help themselves to fruit

Volunteers are being sought to plant and look after dozens of fruit trees set to be grown in a market town.

The 60 trees, a mix of apples, pears and other fruits, are being grown in Banbury in celebration of King Charles III's Coronation.

The town council is looking for residents and community groups to plant the trees in the town's open spaces and parks in November.

Tree wardens are also needed to look after the trees for the next two years.

With guidance from the council's ranger team, volunteers will need to water their tree in dry weather, weed around its base and top up its mulch in winter.

The town council said: "Our aim is to increase tree cover, increasing biodiversity for the benefit of wildlife and the environment, and provide free access to delicious seasonal fruit.

"Residents who want to take part need to pick a tree number from a map and then apply to just plant the tree or plant and take care of it."

Funding for the trees to create the Coronation Community Orchard has been provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) through its Coronation Living Heritage Fund.

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