Better Business / Member news
Thatchers Cider sets to give away 500 trees to community groups
Thatchers Cider is inviting community groups from across the UK to apply for a place in its fifth annual Community Orchard Project.
The initiative seeks to support 50 local groups by providing them with the resources to create their own orchard. With a commitment to sustainability and community development, Thatchers aims to give away 500 apple trees in 2025, bringing the total number of trees donated to over 2,000 since the project’s inception.
The selected community groups will receive ten apple trees, along with all the necessary tools and guidance to plant and maintain their orchards. These trees, chosen for their ease of care and low-maintenance needs, include varieties like Bramley, Scrumptious, Dabinett, and Katy.
Thatchers has handpicked these types for their suitability in a variety of environments, ensuring they thrive with minimal upkeep. The trees will provide not only a source of fresh fruit but also opportunities for local groups to engage with nature, boost biodiversity, and create green spaces that foster connection and reflection.
The Thatcher family farm has been making cider at Myrtle Farm in Somerset for 120 years – photo: Thatchers
Martin Thatcher, fourth-generation cider maker at Thatchers, said: “We believe that orchards are special places that have the power to give communities a place to come together, to learn, to share, to connect with nature and reflect on the world around them, all while contributing to biodiversity and creating new habitats for nature.
“At Thatchers’ home on Myrtle Farm we’re surrounded by 500 acres of orchards. Spending time in them is something we are lucky enough to enjoy, and we want to share that with others. If you think you and your community could benefit from planting, growing and tending to a small orchard, why not apply?”
The Thatcher family farm has been making cider at Myrtle Farm in Somerset for five generations with love and attention to details. Being passionate about their craft they grow some 458 varieties of apples.
Applications for the 2025 Community Orchard Project will open on December 26, 2024, and close on January 31, 2025.
Martin Thatcher visits Weston Hospice care, meeting community fundraisers Abi and Kirsty, to see apple trees planted for the Thatchers Community Orchard Project – photo: Neil Phillips Photo and Film Ltd
Thatchers is eager to hear from a wide range of local groups, including those working in urban and rural areas to improve mental health, provide food for those in need, or engage local communities in outdoor activities.
Interested organisations can visit the Thatchers Cider website to apply and share how an orchard could benefit their group.
Eleanor Thatcher, fifth generation cider maker visited The Farm Animal Sanctuary in Evesham, who received a bundle of apple trees as part of the 2022 Thatchers Community Orchard Project – photo: Neil Phillips Photo and Film Ltd
For more information, visit www.thatcherscider.co.uk/thatchers-community-orchard
Main photo: Thatchers
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