A new community orchard has been planted along the Caldon Canal in Endon.

A group of volunteers led by Cllr Joe Porter recently came together to plant the orchard at the end of tree planting season.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and the Canal and River Trust are working together to create a wildlife corridor and encourage litter picking efforts along the canal.

The project was initiated by Cllr Porter, who is a District Councillor for Brown Edge and Endon and Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity at the District Council.

The value for communities of green spaces – parks, orchards, allotments, gardens etc – has become well recognised and access to these spaces the subject of public policy.

The health and social benefits have been promoted as well as the benefits for the natural environment and tackling climate change.

District Councillor Joe Porter said: "In the Staffordshire Moorlands we are perfectly positioned to champion nature-based solutions to climate change and establish a Nature Recovery Network.

"Our new community orchard along the Caldon Canal in Endon will benefit people and nature for years to come. Thank you to our small team of volunteers for their great tree planting efforts so far.

"We hope that local residents and visitors will soon be able to enjoy the fruit from the trees. Anyone interested in getting involved should please contact us."

The small team of six volunteers planted a mixture of 25 fruit and nut trees for the first section of the community orchard. They plan to plant more trees and wildflowers along the canal over the next few years.

The Council is encouraging anyone interested in getting involved with the project, particularly residents in the Endon area, to get in touch directly with Cllr Porter and the team at [email protected].

The project is part of the District Council's wider green infrastructure mission to create a Nature Recovery Network across the Staffordshire Moorlands. The Council is now aiming to work with community groups and parish councils to plant 100 community orchards over the next few years.

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