1,000 fruit trees and 3km of hedging plants have been allocated through Petersfield Climate Action Network’s Fruit Tree in Every Garden project, which we have supported through the Grow Up! Programme.
Funding from Grow Up! was used to subsidise the cost of fruit trees and free hedging plants were funded by The Tree Council.
Over the four years this PeCAN project has been running - and growing – they have provided nearly 2,000 fruit trees for local gardens and allotments.
The benefits offered by planting a fruit tree include habitat for wildlife, water retention, shading, blossom, fruit and carbon absorption – but hedgerows could be fellow gentle champions of nature recovery. Native hedging offers a diverse habitat, supporting a range of wildlife as a natural foraging corridor and source of shelter, and capturing and storing large amounts of carbon.
At the Tree Festival in November and Hedge Fest in February, PeCAN, The Tree Council and Petersfield Community Garden collaborated to offer free planting and pruning demonstrations, expert information, and brilliant activities for children. Further collaborations, with Alton Climate Action Network, Liphook Climate Action Network and Rowlands Castle Gardening Club, provided additional collection points around the district. Approximately 70 volunteers helped to deliver the project, and more than 600 people attended across the two events.
One customer commented, "The 80m of mixed native hedgerow we collected at Hedge Fest will be planted on our wildflower meadow, primarily for wildlife and to boost biodiversity, and will be laid using traditional Hampshire methods. We can’t wait to see the difference it makes to our little pocket of Hampshire chalk!"
We’ve also supported the building of a new shelter in Petersfield Community Garden, which was built and designed by natural builders from a local company based in Midhurst - Built by Artizans. Funding for this came from our Supporting Communities Fund, which reopens for applications on 2 April 2024, the South Downs National Park and smaller donations through local fundraising.
Cllr Richard Millard, Leader of East Hampshire District Council, said:
“We are proud to have been able to support this project through the Grow Up! programme.
“The enthusiasm with which PeCAN and their volunteers have approached the goal of a fruit tree in every garden has been a joy to behold.
“With the help of The Tree Council, they’ve also provided the educational support needed to ensure that the fruit trees thrive in the gardens where they are planted.
“The project is a great example of where we can achieve much more by working in partnership than we would have done alone.”
A Fruit Tree in Every Garden will return once again next autumn. You can register your interest in purchasing a subsidised fruit tree on PeCAN’s website where you can also sign up for monthly updates via their newsletter. Keep an eye on their Facebook and Instagram accounts for news.
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UKSPF
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.