Planting trees for Bristol's future

Television presenter Kevin McCloud and former Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash have joined Bristol Mayor George Ferguson and local schoolchildren to plant a community orchard in the shape of a tree ‘cathedral’ on Whitchurch Village Green.

The tennis star is proud to back the project and says he has always been a "Greenie"

The orchard was designed by artist David Thorpe and will feature 47 fruit trees. It will become a unique community meeting place as well as providing an abundance of free food for local people.

The planting is part of Bristol City Council’s ‘One Tree Per Child’ programme, which aims to plant 36,000 trees to mark the city’s status as European Green Capital 2015.

The council teamed up with the Australian ‘One Tree Per Child’ initiative founded by Olivia Newton-John and Australian environmentalist, Jon Dee. Bristol has already planted 15,000 trees in city schools, home gardens and local green spaces. All 36,000 trees will be planted by the end of March 2016.

The scheme also includes a global aspect - at the planting, ‘One Tree Per Child’ pilot projects were also announced for Africa with local charities Chase Africa and Tree Aid.

The orchard came out of conversations with residents about their hopes for their community and the future - it is designed to be both functional and beautiful and to last for decades.