Thatchers Community Orchard project helps groups plant Apple trees

Attracting hundreds of applications, the Somerset cider maker has supported over 100 groups wanting to enhance their communities, with 500 apple trees donated this year.

Places like Weston-super-Mare CC and Weston Hospicecare have benentifed from the project.

Residents’ associations, parish councils, allotment groups, and care homes were also successful with five apple trees donated to each of the applicants.

To apply, they needed to explain why planting apple trees would make a difference to their communities.

“It’s always a real pleasure to distribute apple trees to organisations who really care about the community around them,” says Martin Thatcher, fourth generation of the cider making family. 

“We’ve been brought up with trees all around us at Myrtle Farm – so through this project we’re looking to spread apple tree love across the UK.

 “With applications from the North of Scotland to the South West, from both rural and urban communities, by donating apple trees we can help communities in so many different ways – from helping green urban residential communities, providing an area of peace and solitude to care homes, and an educational resource to schools and colleges.”

This is the third year the Somerset cider maker has run its Community Orchard Project.

Thatchers Community Orchard Project was first run in 2021. The project attracted such demand in its first year, the family run cider maker decided to more than double the number of trees it gave away in its second year, and in its third year doubling the number of organisations it has supported.

This brings the total number of organisations supported since launch to 175, with almost 1000 apple trees so far donated and planted across the country.

 "The project shares our family’s passion for apple trees, building communities and constant support of the environment and ecosystem around us today and for the future,” Martin concludes.