A community orchard containing 50 fruit trees has been planted at The Carrs Local Nature Reserve, Warsop, as part of a Mansfield District Council initiative to plant more trees across the district and create living food banks for residents.

Children from Church Vale Primary School are pictured with members of The Carrs Friends’ Group and staff from the council’s Parks team after they planted apple, pear and plum trees. Once the trees have matured over the next few years, the local community will be able to pick the fruit for free.

The £5,600 project, which was financed by funding from the Sherwood Forest Trust, follows on from the planting of a new community orchard at Forest Road Park. A total of 2,118 trees have been purchased for the district, including 320 fruit trees.

Portfolio holder for the environment Coun Philip Shields said: “The community orchard is a great addition to The Carrs, because it will not only enhance the habitat for wildlife, but will also provide a healthy food resource for the community for the next 80 to 90 years.

“have been impressed by the number of people who have come forward to help us planting trees across Mansfield. We want to encourage communities to get involved with their local environment. These trees are a great legacy for future generations.”