Volunteers from Paulton in Pride (PIP) have been planting apple trees in the village as part of the Thatchers Community Orchard Project.

PIP has received apple trees through Thatchers Community Orchard Project, which is supporting community groups, schools, and charities across the UK in planting more trees this spring as part of its 2025 apple tree planting season.

Paulton in Pride is a volunteer-led community group that, for the last 13 years, has been improving areas of the village to make them more attractive for residents, visitors, and wildlife. The trees being planted include a selection of apple varieties, including Bramley and Katy.

In its ongoing commitment to the environment – and its focus on apple trees – this is the fourth year that fourth-generation cider maker Thatchers has provided trees to groups through the Community Orchard Project.

With 500 trees in total to be given away this year, the producer of much-loved ciders Gold, Haze and Katy, simply asked organisations to explain why planting trees would be beneficial for their communities.

PIP have sited their trees near the junior school, where children came to help with the planting and are looking forward to watching the trees mature and hopefully picking some apples in the future.

Fourth-generation cider maker, Martin Thatcher, who planted his first apple tree in Somerset at the age of just five, said: “From a single apple tree to a community orchard, it can make such a difference to people’s well-being which is why we’re delighted to be donating these apple trees through our Community Orchard Project.”

For local community initiatives and support, you can contact the Paulton Parish Council through their website: Paulton Parish Council.​

For more information about Paulton in Pride, you can reach out to them through their Facebook page.