Council to plant ten community orchards across the district

Having secured funding through Natural England’s Nature Recovery Network Seed Funding programme, ELDC has worked with community groups, parish councils, and Platform Housing (who have contributed towards the funding of the three sites under their ownership) to identify sites for the orchards.

The district council took delivery of the trees earlier this month and will now plant them at the following sites: Westgate Fields in Louth; The Gatherums in Louth; Grainthorpe; North Somercotes; Belchford; Mawson Gardens* in Wainfleet All Saints; Tower View* in Horsington; Wainfleet St Mary; South Willingham; and Cromwell Place* in Tattershall. Asterisks denote sites owned by Platform Housing. Each of these orchards will contain between five and 20 trees.

Within the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan, traditional orchards are identified as a ‘priority habitat’, meaning they are considered under threat and in need of conservation.

The orchards planted as part of the Bearing Fruit project will help create new habitats for the future, contributing towards national tree planting targets and carbon capture.

Residents will also be encouraged to get involved with managing the orchards, and ELDC will provide training later in the year on how to prune and look after the trees.

Councillor Graham Marsh, Deputy Leader of East Lindsey District Council and Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, said: “I’m very pleased that these new orchards will soon be in place across East Lindsey.

“They will provide a huge benefit for our natural environment, enhancing our biodiversity and helping to address the national loss of traditional orchards.

“They’ll also provide a boost to our communities, representing an opportunity for residents to come together, learn new skills, and help care for a much-needed natural resource.”