Wiltshire Council has been given £50,000 for community orchards as part of a new government tree-planting initiative.

The council plans to allocate these funds to communities to encourage community orchards throughout Wiltshire.

The money comes from the Government’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund which awards a total of £2.5 million across different planting projects in England.

According to Wiltshire Council, the money it has been awarded will be used for the purchase of trees, protection measures and establishment costs as well as commemorative signage.

Currently, Wiltshire has a combined tree canopy coverage of 14%.

It would have to be increased to 17% to be in line with national government targets and to meet the council's commitments set out in the Climate strategy, and Green and blue infrastructure strategy.

Councillor Nick Holder, cabinet member for environment, said: “We’ll have more information on how this will be allocated in due course, but we’re looking forward to working directly with communities and continuing our work of enhancing trees and woodlands throughout Wiltshire.”

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton, said: “This is a terrific initiative honouring the Coronation of HM The King, and I look forward in time to seeing apples, pears, plums, even cherries perhaps, harvested from the orchards.”