Boosting local biodiversity
The Veolia Orchard scheme has opened for applications once more, launched by Great
British Bake Off (GBBO) winner, Matty Edgell.
The scheme has enriched communities nationwide since 2022, with the initiative offering fruit trees and strawberry plants to schools, colleges and universities, as well as community organisations including care homes, and places of worship.
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Celebrity chef and Great British Bake Off (GBBO), Matty Edgell has announced the opening of this year’s Veolia Orchard scheme, inviting schools, colleges and universities, as well as community groups in West Berkshire to apply for either five fruit trees or ten strawberry plants.
Veolia Orchard is open to education and community organisations across the district, where Veolia delivers essential recycling and waste treatment services on behalf of West Berkshire Council.
Since 2022, in West Berkshire, 55 fruit trees and 50 strawberry plants have been planted across 16 schools.
Each orchard is part of an environmental network increasing biodiversity in local areas, with the recipients benefiting from access to home-grown produce and hands-on learning through nature.
Organisations have until Friday 20 November to apply online at veolia.co.uk/veolia-orchard for their very own orchard.
Each orchard comes with a free limited supply of Pro-Grow, Veolia’s nutrient-rich soil conditioner made from recycled garden waste, to support early growth of the saplings and seedlings.
Applicants can also opt for an interactive session with Veolia’s experts, who can guide participants through planting whilst sharing insights on the long-term benefits to communities and the environment.
Successful applicants will hear back in December, with the delivery of plants taking place in Spring 2027.
Donald Macphail, Chief Operating Officer, Treatment, Veolia said : “The continued growth of Veolia Orchard reflects our commitment to environmental education and community engagement.
For the past five years, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of these green spaces from school playgrounds to care homes and places of worship.
With over 700 schools and community groups already flourishing across our nationwide Orchard network, we hope to branch out this season and reach 1000 orchards.
Each one represents another step towards a greener, more sustainable future.”
Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Environment and Highways at West Berkshire Council, said: “The Veolia Orchard scheme is a great example of how small actions can make a big difference.
As well as increasing biodiversity and supporting pollinators, these orchards give local people the chance to engage with nature, learn new skills and enjoy the rewards of growing their own produce.
We are pleased to see the scheme continuing to benefit communities across West Berkshire.”
Veolia Orchard 2026, a nationwide scheme, was launched on 21 September at Beaumont School in St Albans – home of the 2026 winners of Veolia’s Orchard Bakes competition, held in the summer.
The competition invited previous orchard recipients to create original recipes inspired by the fruits of their growing orchards.
The school’s winning recipe was for a chutney made from plums grown in their Veolia Orchard, donated in 2023.
ABOUT VEOLIA
Veolia, a global leader in environmental services, works every day to build environmental security for the benefit of public health and the competitiveness of industries and regions.
With 215,000 employees across five continents, working closely with local communities, and thanks to its cutting-edge technologies, the group cleans up pollution, reduces carbon emissions, and regenerates resources through concrete solutions that combine its expertise in water and water technologies, waste – including hazardous waste management, and local energy.
In 2025, the Veolia group served 110 million people with drinking water and 97 million with sanitation, produced 45 million megawatt hours of energy, and treated 64 million tons of waste.
Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE, Fortune 500, SBF 120) generated consolidated revenue of €44.4 billion in 2025.
