Plant fruit trees in public spaces to provide free food for residents while bringing neighbours together through collaborative environmental action that creates lasting community connections.
Open Orchard began in 2014 at the Bzz Garage garden project in West Norwood, London, when a single donated morello cherry tree inspired a community movement. The initiative has grown from one tree to 260 trees across 24 orchards, demonstrating the scalable impact of community-led environmental action.
The environmental benefits compound over time as trees mature, increasing carbon absorption, rainwater management, and pollination opportunities. Beyond environmental impact, the project creates opportunities for social enterprise through fruit processing and community events like wassailing, blossom watching, and harvest celebrations.
Co-founder Wayne Trevor emphasises the project's community-building potential: "If more of us were doing things we cared about locally, the world would be better and we'd be much happier." The initiative proves particularly valuable in urban areas where neighbours may lack opportunities for meaningful connection and shared purpose.
How to get involved
Time:
5 hours per week initially, then 7 hours during planting and harvesting seasons, less than 1 hour at other times.
This 5 step guide will show you how to start an Open Orchard group in your community, to help connect communities through planting fruit trees in public places. We hope to spread the Open Orchard idea and we'll provide plenty of support to you along the way!
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