A Perfect Partner: The Orchard Project
FROM WILL DENNIS
Head of Sustainability
We are delighted to be working with The Orchard Project, a UK-based charity dedicated to planting and restoring traditional, community-managed orchards. Their mission is to ensure that anyone living in an urban community is within walking distance of an orchard, connecting them to their food, to nature and to each other. In the 15 years since their inception, The Orchard Project has supported over 550 orchards and 700,000 beneficiaries and their commitment to restoring biodiversity and promoting social wellbeing make them a perfect partner for Daylesford.
FOOD SYSTEM
Our food system is in a concerning state in the UK. We produce just 60% of the food we eat, relying on imports for the remainder. For vegetables, domestic production is 55% of total consumption and for fresh fruit this plummets to just 16%. Much of this may be attributed to the decline in traditional orchards, 90% of which have been lost since the 1950s. Of the remainder, only half are in good ecological condition. Restoring these sites and establishing new ones is key to improving our food security, an ever-increasing worry as the rapidly changing climate impacts the countries from which we source the bulk of our produce.
THE ORCHARD PROJECT
The Orchard Project’s work offers solutions to the multiple crises that we face. From an environmental perspective, the planting or restoration of fruit trees has immediate benefits in the creation of wildlife habitats and, when mature, additional carbon capture and sequestration. This has been taken several steps further by adopting a biodiversity-focused ecosystem approach to the orchard area. Avoiding the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides and boosting soil health are key to the long-term survival of the trees and the species they support. Planting a variety of fruit species alongside other layers of food-producing crops improves resilience to changes in climate and creates additional habitat.
LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY
Far beyond creating a local food supply, the social benefits are significant. Central to The Orchard Project’s ethos is the theme of community involvement and ownership, both in the initial design of the project and through to the ongoing maintenance of the space. Detailed training is given to local residents – 1,500 people received orcharding skills training last year – as well as access to a dedicated aftercare team and orchard mentors to ensure long term success. Planted predominantly in public spaces or near social housing, an orchard can become an important community hub, an education centre, and a safe green space for connecting with nature. The impacts are well documented, with 93% of The Orchard Project’s beneficiaries reporting improved wellbeing and 98% feel more positive about where they live as a result.
ORGANIC FOOD
At Daylesford we have long recognised the importance of orchards, particularly in organic food production. Our market garden and agroforestry area produce much of the orchard fruit served in our cafés and sold in the farm shops, and we support local orchard owners to rescue their fruit gluts for cider production. We are particularly inspired by The Orchard Project’s expertise in building and feeding communities and are proud to support their work.
