Bridport Tree Planting has handed over ten apple trees to Bridport and District Allotments Association to start what they hope will become a 'fruitful partnership'.

Joe Hackett, co-ordinator of Bridport Tree Planting, handed over the gift, worth £150, to chair of the allotments association, Fiona Dare.

Joe said: "We hope in the autumn to be able to give more 'food trees' – not just apples but pears, plums and nuts also - to people with allotments. We want to do everything we can to encourage production of local nutritious food."

This is a new venture for Bridport Tree Planting, which has been in existence since the autumn of 2019.

Previously, the group gave away or planted in public, open spaces native species such as rowan, hazel, hawthorn and birch to help fight climate change and improve biodiversity, but this year it has planted a few fruit and nut trees on land owned by Bridport Town Council at Flaxhayes, at the north end of St Swithin's Road.

Joe added: "We were originally sponsored by Groves Nursery, who generously gave us a tree or equivalent for every tree they sold - and we were lucky to find a private sponsor who is very keen on trees.

"We've planted or given away close on 1,000 native species trees a year and now we can give away some fruit trees too.

"At the end of the planting season we can still give away three non-fruit trees to each household in Bridport."

For more information, and if you wish to receive Bridport Tree Planting's regular newsletter, email [email protected]