A community partnership is bearing fruit as work begins to plant 500 trees at New Warlands Farm.

The saplings, including over 400 apple trees, will make up an orchard and a nearby grove of mixed fruit trees, funded by North East Community Forest (NECF) through its Trees for Climate grant, a UK Government–funded programme that forms part of a wider national initiative working with landowners to create new woodlands.

When grown, the trees will be a key supply of fresh fruit for the farm shop, café, and cidery being built at the centre of the North East Autism Society’s Growing Futures appeal.

The orchards and cidery are a key part of the development, offering autistic people opportunities for work and training in horticulture, land management, and the production of juice and cider.

Participants from NEAS’ Employment Futures service, which supports autistic and neurodivergent people to build employment skills and wellbeing, have already been getting stuck in at the farm, and were joined by volunteers from NECF to plant the first of the mixed fruit trees.

“I have enjoyed working alongside some of the participants from the Employment Futures programme, and it’s been really nice to see the direct benefits that a scheme like this provides,” says Roy Bearpark, Community Woodland Officer at NECF.

Alongside colleagues at NECF, Roy worked closely with the Society to plan out the orchard, consulting cider makers and apple growers across the UK to design the scheme, and supporting with soil testing and tree variety selection.

“It was really quite a rewarding experience,” Roy says.

“Challenging at times, just to make sure we make the right selection of varieties that, ultimately, is going to contribute to the long-term success of the orchard.”

“We don’t just want it to be here for a few years, we want it to be here in perpetuity, and be a lasting resource that has a really great legacy.”

The orchard also brings environmental benefits to New Warlands Farm, encouraging pollinating insects like bees to flourish in the area, boosting the area’s biodiversity, and aiding with carbon sequestration, the process by which trees store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Nine varieties of apples are being planted in the orchard, alongside crab apple varieties, and a range of other fruits such as pear, plum, quince, damson, and cherry.

John Phillipson, CEO at NEAS says: “We are really grateful to have the opportunity to plant these trees on our land at New Warlands Farm thanks to funding from North East Community Forest.

“The orchard is going to contribute to the natural environment and create an even better haven for wildlife, make our visitor centre more attractive, and provide vital opportunities for autistic individuals.”

The Society’s plans for the farm have also been shared by NECF, who are keen to see the social impact of their own contribution.

Roy says: “For us it’s really important that people benefit from the trees, as well as the trees being an end in their own right.”

“Coming to a natural space to work on the land and develop skills in horticulture and land management can be really valuable for people who might find other environments overstimulating,” He adds.

“We do try and encourage community involvement in planting, but this orchard is going to be planted, maintained, and kept in a beautiful condition, hopefully for a number of years, by people who are going to develop skills and a familiarity with the orchard.”

Members of the public can be a part of the new orchard too, supporting the construction of the visitor centre at New Warlands Farm, through the Society’s Growing Futures appeal.

Donors will be supporting the maintenance and development of the orchard and visitor centre, and can leave their own lasting legacy by donating to sponsor a tree.