Last Updated on: 19th March 2025, 05:59 pm
To commemorate 80 years since VE Day, Harborough District Council has partnered with Jacksons Nurseries to distribute 3,600 free fruit trees to residents across the district.
Residents are invited to collect one tree per person from Welland Park on 2nd and 3rd April, with no need for an appointment. The trees will be given out bare root, meaning they should be planted on the same day to ensure successful growth.
The initiative is part of the council’s commitment to environmental sustainability and community engagement. By providing residents with fruit trees, the council hopes to encourage greener urban spaces, support local food production, and contribute to tackling climate change. This tree giveaway also serves as a tribute to the 80th anniversary of VE Day, paying homage to those who sacrificed so much during World War II and reinforcing the values of peace and community.
The trees, which include apple, cherry, and plum varieties, are being supplied by Jacksons Nurseries, a family-run garden centre in North Staffordshire. Operating from a 10-acre site, the nursery produces over 300,000 plants annually, supplying both its garden centre and nationwide online customers. Now under its third generation of family ownership, Jacksons Nurseries is actively engaging in community-based projects, with a particular focus on sustainability and environmental impact.
Owner of Jacksons Nurseries, Luke Jackson said: “We are delighted to be part of this important initiative in Harborough. Trees are proven to improve air quality, reduce urban heat and support local wildlife. My grandad was a rear gunner on a Sunderland plane during WW2. The trees will act as a fitting tribute to the sacrifices made by my grandad and millions of others like him during the war. The trees will be in flower by 8th May in a sign of hope and new beginnings.”
Local resident Geoff Feavyour who hopes to take advantage of the giveaway commented: “There’s nothing more rewarding than growing your own fruit and picking it fresh off the tree. It tastes much better than mass produced fruit and avoids the need for plastic packaging. Fruit trees are a great way to teach children about the pollination process in a fun, hands-on way, helping them appreciate the importance of insects such as bees and butterflies in the ecology of our local environments.”
The Harborough fruit tree initiative is the latest of several community projects supported by Jacksons Nurseries over recent months. Their planting team installed 16 root-balled Christmas trees for Pontypool council in October and regularly help with trees and displays at their local church, St Chads. Jacksons Nurseries is located on Thorney Edge Road in Bagnall, Staffordshire, ST9 9LE. More information is available on their website at www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
The Harborough project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
The full address of the location where the trees will be available to collect is Welland Park, Welland Park Road, Market Harborough, LE16 9DN.
