Kent nursery Grow launches rare fruit tree sponsorship initiative

Grow, a family-run fruit nursery in Mersham, Kent, is ‘apeeling’ to sustainability-conscious businesses across the country to help plant endangered fruit trees.

The nursery has already had hundreds of community sites sign up to host the trees, all awaiting sponsorship from local companies.

Each tree is to be selected from a host of rare varieties at the National Fruit Collection in Faversham – one of the world’s largest, and just 30 minutes down the road from Grow.

The team will then take cuttings and regenerate the trees through grafting, preserving them for generations to come.

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Donna Cooper, Nursery Director, said: “This is about providing businesses with the opportunity to do good and feel good – doing their bit in the fight against climate change, feeding their local community, and bringing biodiversity to the area. All while helping to restore special varieties of heritage fruit trees on the edge of extinction.

“Our carbon offset programme is tailored to every business, including which sites and communities they’d like to benefit from the apple trees they’re sponsoring.

“We advise which tree varieties from the national collection are most suited to the soil and conditions at their chosen planting sites (and of course, what is going to taste good!)

“It’s really easy to become a sponsor and very rewarding – we give you updates every step of the way so you know where the trees are being planted and can see how you’re making a difference in your community.”

Every 100 trees planted will achieve a quarter of a tonne of carbon offset, not to mention plenty of fresh fruit.

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