Members of our team dug in at Acorn Village in Mistley, Manningtree, to join volunteers and residents planting an avenue of fruit trees.

This dynamic charity that is based upon Steiner Waldorf principles, provides care and support for adults with learning disabilities through residential and supported living facilities at Acorn Village and in the wider local community.

The 32 apple and pear trees will bear low-hanging fruit so residents with health conditions can enjoy picking these to be pressed on-site into juice for residents, who will also enjoy following their changing aesthetics throughout the seasons.

As the trees grow, they will absorb and store carbon dioxide, removing emissions from the atmosphere, whilst also supporting pollinators and wildlife.

The tree planting is a small part of the ambitious £100,000 ‘Improving connectedness to nature at Acorn Villages’ project, gained from the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund that supports projects that create better places to live, work and visit.

Work is already underway to create a juice pressing room that will be decorated with tiles designed by local SENCO school children and the funding will also provide a fully accessible kitchen garden, information boards along a nature walk, and a wild flower meadow will be planted to increase bee and insect population.

Spearheading the project Angenita Hardy Teekens, deputy manager, said: “The tree planting party was a great success. 50% of the volunteers had never been to Acorn Villages before which was particularly lovely as we could show groups around the site and our facilities.”

“I would encourage any organisation to apply for funding. I found the Heritage Lottery Fund support during the applications really useful and thorough.”

We were approached by the charity to assist with promoting the event for volunteer signups and encourage you to contact us via our website or social media pages for support and councillor engagement.