We are a group including Action 21 from Leamington and the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust who are looking to set up a number of community orchards in Central Warwickshire. Community orchards are a great way to provide community space in a parish and can be used for all sorts of things apart from just fruit production. Picnics and BBQs spring to mind! We are looking to help village groups set up orchards.

Live & Local – Story Tent

This project would bring communities together, supporting them in projects to grow their own produce. Garden Organic would draw on its 50 years of expertise in organic growing and provide support in the following ways:

1. Planning advice and improvement and rennovation of exsisting areas

2. Training courses to both novices and experienced growers

3. Support and advice through appointing  'Master Gardeners' in the community

Following the interest generated by our local history project "My Farming Life", we plan to create a record of the annual and occasional village events that celebrate the achievements of our rural communities. Agricultural and Horticultural Shows, traditional Maypole, and Harvest Festivals are all changing as rural communities evolve to take onboard the cultures and new traditions of the 21st Century.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust would like to encourage more people to consider wildlife in their gardens and reward people who already have wildlife friendly gardens. 

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk) are seeking partners to work with on any Wildlife related projects - this can be anything from community orchards to fun day events. For projects in Warwick District please contact me, Caroline Bailey - Caroline.Bailey@wkwt.org.uk.

A Coventry group of older people has regenerated its local allotments as a community allotment and won a prize in the 'Heart of England in Bloom' contest. They were guided by Age Concern's Growing Concerns initiative. Are your allotments run down, with several vacant plots? LEADER could help you to bring together a community group to restore them as a community allotment.

Community Horticulture schemes are gaining in popularity around the UK and we would welcome ideas for any community projects in the LEADER areas. Ideas include community orchards to produce fruit which can be shared out within a village and at the same time provide a recreation space. They are also a great way to restore old or unused orchards for full community use. See the common ground webpage on community orchards for ideas of what can be done (http://www.commonground.org.uk/appleday/a-corc.html)