The Somerset Biodiversity Partnership is shortly to launch a new project to help reverse the decline of traditional orchards in the county, thanks to a grant of £38,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), it was announced today.  The  ‘Keeping South Somerset Orchards Alive’ project will also receive a further £7,000 in funding from Partnership members.

The project aims to keep an important part of South Somerset’s heritage alive by raising the profile of orchards and providing advice for orchard owners on all aspects of management.  Volunteers will receive training in techniques to survey orchards for their special wildlife and to encourage communities to plant new orchards or restore neglected orchards in their local area. Local school children will explore the natural heritage of the traditional orchards on their doorsteps and plant new ones in their school grounds.

The award has enabled the Partnership to employ an Orchard Project Officer to deliver the two year project, which is focused on an orchard hotspot of 28 parishes within South Somerset.  The culture of traditional orchard heritage will be celebrated at events such as Wassailing and Apple Day, and efforts will be made to keep alive local heritage apple varieties that are not widely available today such as Chisel Jersey, Red Worthy and Slack Me Girdle.

Commenting on the award, Charlotte Thomas, Orchard Project Officer, said, “We are thrilled to be receiving this support from HLF and would love to hear from anyone interested in knowing more about the project. If you own or mana