The Orchard Project

IFCF has launched a three‑year national partnership with The Orchard Project, the UK’s only charity dedicated exclusively to creating, restoring, and celebrating community orchards. This collaboration aims to expand access to green spaces, strengthen local environments, and support children and families through nature‑based learning and community engagement.

Creating Community Orchards Across the UK

Beginning in 2026, IFCF is investing £50,000 in the first year to help co‑fund the planting of new community orchards in areas that will benefit most from increased access to nature.

The first three orchard locations include:

  • Stoneyfields Park, Edgware (London)
  • St David’s Catholic Primary School, Swansea
  • Calder Street Greenspace, Glasgow

These orchards will provide fresh fruit, boost local biodiversity, and create welcoming outdoor spaces for communities. They are designed to bring people together, encourage healthier lifestyles, and support long‑term environmental improvements within urban and suburban areas.

Strengthening Communities Through Nature

The partnership will help transform underused public spaces into vibrant community assets. Each orchard will be shaped with local involvement, giving residents opportunities to learn orchard care, connect with their neighbours, and enjoy shared green areas.

For children and young people, the orchards will offer outdoor learning environments where they can develop practical skills, explore nature, and build an understanding of where food comes from. These spaces are intended to inspire curiosity, confidence, and environmental awareness.

Supporting the Schools Orchard Programme

Alongside orchard creation, IFCF is supporting The Orchard Project’s nationwide schools programme. This initiative helps schools:

  • Build outdoor learning spaces
  • Teach practical orchard management and tree‑care skills
  • Integrate nature‑based learning into the curriculum
  • Encourage long‑term environmental stewardship

Through hands‑on activities, pupils gain new skills, engage with the natural world, and develop a deeper respect for the environment around them.

This partnership reinforces IFCF’s long‑standing commitment to environmental action, children’s wellbeing, and community investment. By combining IFCF’s support with The Orchard Project’s expertise, the collaboration will create lasting benefits for people, wildlife, and local landscapes.

Across the next three years, the initiative aims to nurture resilient communities, support young people, and help create a greener, healthier future for the next generation.