Veolia Orchard has enriched playgrounds nationwide since 2022, enabling biodiversity to flourish in over 500 school grounds across the UK. Students in more than 32 schools across Southwark have joined this initiative to develop long lasting environmental habits and improve their local area.
Veolia’s nationwide orchard now stands at over 1,500 apple and pear trees and 1,900 strawberry plants, with each of the 500 schools joining an environmental network which encourages sustainable practices and outdoor learning.
This year’s saplings all stem from the same mother trees growing apples or pears at Grow Fruit Trees’ nursery in Kent. The 20 new seedlings have become a part of Veolia’s family tree, alongside 50 strawberry plants across 9 schools and colleges in Southwark:
Charlotte Sharman Primary School
Dog kennel Hill Primary school
Michael Faraday Primary School
St. Johns and St. Clements Primary School
Harris Primary Academy East Dulwich
Bird in Bush Primary
Cherry Garden School
The Park College
Snowsfields Primary School
Veolia Orchard aims to connect children with nature, which is achieved even in the most urban settings with strawberry plants provided for schools with smaller outdoor spaces. This spring, Veolia’s hands-on planting events have guided students through proper planting techniques and how to care for their orchard correctly. The sessions help children understand how their orchard benefits their school by enhancing their green spaces and gaining access to fresh locally-grown fruit.
The schools have been supplied with peat-free soil conditioner and topsoil by Pro-Grow, helping to preserve valuable peatland habitats and prevent the release of stored carbon, supporting Veolia Orchard’s carbon-neutral goals.
James McAsh, Southwark Councillor said: “We are proud to see so many Southwark schools taking part in the Veolia Orchard initiative. This fantastic scheme not only helps improve our school environments with fruit trees and plants, but also gives children the chance to connect with nature, learn about sustainability, and take pride in their local surroundings. We are committed to supporting greener, healthier communities, and programmes like this play a vital role in making that vision a reality.”
Pascal Hauret, Municipal Managing Director at Veolia said: “We’re very pleased to bring positive change to the local community in Southwark through our Veolia Orchard project, which reached more schools than ever this year. This initiative exemplifies Veolia’s dedication to building a greener, more sustainable future across the country by increasing biodiversity and inspiring positive environmental practices in young people.’’
The Veolia Orchard scheme will return again in autumn, with the launch of the new school term. Schools will be able to apply for their own orchard or strawberry patch and join the hundreds of schools already enjoying the fruitful benefits of their plants.
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