SOUTH Reading residents came together on Tuesday, March 21, to sow the seeds of what will become a thriving community orchard.
The project saw 30 new fruit trees, including apple, plum, cherry and pear trees, introduced to South Whitley Park. This follows a successful Reading Borough Council bid for £85,000 of grant funding, which will also go towards a toddler’s play area.
These new additions will join the 17 pre-existing trees, which include Dawn Redwood, Cherry, Sorbus and Weeping Willow species.
The planting will provide shade, improved air quality, and help to create an aesthetically pleasing boundary where the park abuts the motorway.
Cllr Rachel Eden, Mayor of Reading and Whitley councillor, was full of praise for the initiative and said: “It was lovely to come together for the planting. It’s the end of the tree planting season and these are some of the last trees being planted in Reading.
“It’s fantastic knowing that these trees will embed and provide shade, fruit and enjoyment for all the people in Whitley Wood for years to come.
“Trees are so important, not just to help us tackle the climate crisis, which we have to do, but also they give us so much pleasure too. This is important investment that we’re getting in Whitley Wood.”
The project is funded by the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities and has been boosted by a further £20,000 of council funding for the delivery of the playground.
This comes from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, which are contributions made by developers as part of conditions attached to the grant of new planning permissions.
The facilities will cater for families who live in the area, where play provision has only been for older children to date.
Cllr Karen Rowland, lead councillor for environmental services and community safety, said: “We are absolutely delighted that an orchard is coming to Whitley. This is a fantastic project that will give this much-loved local park a new lease of life. Importantly, it is also another positive step we are taking to increase biodiversity and respond to tackling the climate emergency.
“This project compliments our ambitious new Tree Strategy, which aims for 3,000 new trees on Council land by 2030, as well as increasing the proportion of land in Reading which is covered by tree canopy to 25% over the same timescale
“However, trees provide us with so many benefits. They have the ability to improve our environment, enhance the beauty of our town and provide peace, calm and joy for our souls in our busy world. By carefully locating trees in areas most in need of green cover, these trees will make a real difference to the wellbeing of our communities in Whitley.”
