After more than two years of campaigning, the March Community Orchard group has begun planting fruit trees across the town as part of its Front Garden Fruit project.
The project was launched after efforts to secure land in the town for a community orchard were unsuccessful.
On Sunday, February 8, volunteers planted 18 apple, pear, and plum trees at locations including March Library, Burrowmoor Primary School, Wendreth Court Care Home, and private front gardens.
Alanna Wilson, founder of March Community Orchard, said: “When we weren’t able to secure land in the town for a community orchard, we put our heads together to figure out a way to bring fruit growing and a sense of community to the town, and came up with the Front Garden Fruit project.
“Despite the many hurdles, we remained determined and couldn’t be happier to finally be putting spades in the ground.”
The trees are expected to begin bearing fruit in two to three years.
Once mature, any excess produce will be made available to the public either through pick-your-own arrangements or in crates placed near footpaths.
Max Spencer, treasurer of March Community Orchard, said: “We’ve had such a positive response from residents—and couldn’t make this happen without their participation in the project.”
The locations of the trees will be plotted on a virtual town map, with updates shared via the group’s Facebook page.
The scheme has been supported by funding from Healthy Fenland and the Cole Charity Trust.
The group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm in the Wordsworth Room of March Library and welcomes new members.
Recent activities have included a garden crawl, a kimchi-making workshop, seed swaps, and harvest tastings.
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