Landowners, farmers, schools and community groups are being invited to apply for funding to create or restore small traditional orchards across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffordshire County Council, acting on behalf of the Local Nature Recovery Partnership, has secured funding from the Tree Council to support the planting of new fruit trees.
The funding will help deliver a target within the forthcoming Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to restore or plant 20 traditional small orchards.
Successful applicants can receive fruit trees free of charge, alongside advice on suitable varieties and support with planting and establishment. Tree stakes, ties, portable water tanks and essential PPE can also be provided, with potential support towards hiring mechanical equipment needed for planting.
Projects must involve at least 10 fruit trees and can take place on farms, school grounds, community-owned land and other suitable locations. Small agroforestry trials may also be considered.
To qualify, the proposed planting site must be within an area identified by the Local Nature Recovery Strategy as an Area that Could Become Important for Biodiversity (ACB) or an Area of Particular Importance for Biodiversity (APIB). Locations that can be seen from a public vantage point are preferred.
Patrick Allen, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said:
Traditional orchards can be fantastic places for nature, while also creating something that communities can enjoy for years to come.
This funding is a great opportunity for farmers, schools, community groups and other landowners to introduce more fruit trees to their land without having to meet the cost themselves."
Applications are open until the end of November 2026 and funding is available on a first come, first served basis. All trees funded through the scheme must be planted by the end of February 2027.
People can check whether their land falls within an eligible area using the Local Nature Recovery Strategy Local Habitat Map. As the map is currently being updated, eligibility will need to be confirmed before proposals progress.
To discuss a proposal, contact Andrew Walton, Tree Strategy Manager at Staffordshire County Council, at trees@staffordshire.gov.uk.
More information is available on the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Local Nature Recovery Strategy website.
