Schools across the South London Waste Partnership (SLWP) region is being invited to apply for their own “Veolia Orchard,” an initiative aimed at enhancing biodiversity and promoting environmental education. The scheme, which was successfully launched last year, is returning with the goal of helping more schools in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, and Sutton establish their own mini orchards.
In 2022, Veolia SLWP, in partnership with the charity Groundwork, delivered 65 fruit trees to 13 schools across these four London boroughs. This year, the initiative aims to expand, offering schools the chance to apply for free fruit trees or strawberry plants, supporting their efforts in environmental education and biodiversity.
Veolia launched the orchard programme as part of its mission to encourage young people to engage with nature and learn valuable skills in maintaining local ecosystems. Already, 100 schools across the UK are participating in the scheme, with thousands of pupils learning about tree planting, care, and the broader benefits to local biodiversity.
Each Veolia Orchard consists of five young fruit trees, while schools with limited space can opt for ten strawberry plants that can grow in pots, bringing nature to even the smallest of playgrounds. The initiative is designed to make it easy for schools to join, regardless of space constraints, and to offer pupils a hands-on learning experience.
Schools in the SLWP boroughs can apply online for the orchards between Monday 5 June and Monday 24 July. Successful applicants will be informed in September, with deliveries of the trees and plants scheduled for October and November. Alongside the trees, each school will receive a detailed information pack explaining how to plant and care for the trees, as well as how to harvest the fruit, creating a valuable educational opportunity for pupils.
Pascal Hauret, Managing Director of Municipal at Veolia, expressed excitement about the project’s growth: “It only takes five fruit trees to make an orchard, but it takes a nation to build a network of trees that can help us fight climate change and improve air quality for our children. Last year, we were thrilled to see the initiative take root. This year, we are eager to see it expand, with 100 schools already participating. We encourage more schools in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, and Sutton to join us in fostering ecological transformation, one orchard at a time.”
Groundwork’s UK Partnerships Manager, Joe McIndoe, added: “Groundwork is delighted to collaborate with Veolia once again on this impactful project. It’s a simple yet effective way of providing fruit trees and strawberry plants to schools, allowing children to enjoy picking and eating fresh fruit while supporting local biodiversity. With this year set to double the number of schools benefitting, we are excited to see more children involved.”
Andrea Keys, Partnership Director at the South London Waste Partnership, emphasised the significance of the project: “Engaging local schools in sustainability is crucial. Veolia’s ‘Recycling Rockstars’ programme has already made a difference in encouraging pupils and families to recycle more and waste less. The Veolia Orchard project builds on this, highlighting biodiversity, sustainable food production, and the importance of caring for our natural environment.”
The initiative is expected to have a lasting impact on schools and students, promoting a deeper connection with nature and supporting the development of sustainable habits among young people.
For more details, visit slwp.org.uk/your-services