Join Our Family Tree
Since 2022, Veolia has delivered 1,085 fruit trees and 780 strawberry plants to 291 schools across the UK. This nationwide family of orchards is comprised of little clusters of trees or strawberry patches at schools in 29 local authorities around the country.
This initiative launched in 2022, donating fruit trees to schools in order to give young people a chance to experience the benefits of working with nature as well as improving local biodiversity. Building on its initial success, in 2023 the scheme expanded to include strawberry planters, ensuring that more urban schools with limited outdoor green space could also participate.
This campaign is being powered by Veolia's Sustainable Schools programme. Each orchard is intended to become a learning resource for pupils, empowering them to improve their local environment and combat climate change as well as provide them with fresh fruit. Successful schools will highlight how they intend to integrate their trees into a learning programme for their pupils.
Applications are now open until November 8 2024.
Why orchards?
Through this national campaign we want to give young people a chance to feel the benefits of working with nature and getting their hands dirty. Schools can use the programme to nurture new skills for their pupils to take positive action in their communities.
As the trees and plants mature, they will also provide a source of healthy food for pupils, whilst also helping to improve local air quality and support biodiversity.
What are the site requirements for an orchard?
This programme aims to provide small orchards which consist of 5 young fruit trees.
Each tree is 1.2 - 1.5 metres tall and needs to have around 5 metres distance between them to allow them to mature. For an orchard of 5 trees, an area of approximately 25 square metres is needed. The site needs to have good drainage and you must have permission from the landowner to plant the trees.
If your school does not have space for 5 trees, you can apply for strawberry plants instead if you have a green space or existing planters to plant them in.
Each application will be assessed on a case by case basis. Depending on the level of interest received, schools that are more disadvantaged or located in urban areas with less access to good quality green space may be prioritised.
Who can apply?
We are working with our Local Authority partners to deliver free fruit trees and plants to schools. Those schools in the following areas can apply:
- Birmingham
- Brent
- Bromley
- Camden
- Chesterfield
- Croydon
- Dover
- Folkestone & Hythe
- Greenwich
- Hammersmith & Fulham
- Hampshire
- Harlow
- Kingston
- Medway
- Merseyside & Halton
- Merton
- Northampton
- Shropshire
- Solihull
- South Downs
- Southend-on- Sea
- Southwark
- St Albans
- Stafford
- Sutton
- Telford & Wrekin
- Tendring
- Watford
- West Berkshire
- Westminster
- Wyre
Please note that if your school is successful in receiving free fruit trees or plants, you agree in advance to be included in any promotional material we develop. Veolia Orchard will promote case studies in any Veolia related publications and publicity material, including but not limited to annual reports, internal newsletters, press releases, leaflets, brochures, advertisements or websites with any reasonable retouching or alteration.
When are applications open?
How will the fruit be planted?
If your school has been approved for an orchard you will be contacted to arrange the delivery of the trees or strawberries. Deliveries will be carried out over spring 2025 and will be accompanied by a step-by-step guide on how you can plant the trees and maintain them as the orchard grows.
Please note that if your school is selected you will need to plant the trees yourself using your own equipment; an equipment list will be provided in advance of the deliveries.
At a time when much of life and play is inside and static, this experience has provided an opportunity for the children to get their hands dirty and make a positive impact on their environment.