VOLUNTEERS who run a thriving East Lancashire community orchard are urging other groups to apply for free fruit trees before the last of the Lancashire County Council orchards' funding runs out.

The Pennine Oaks group in Barrowford are to donate fresh fruit and homemade jam from their next harvest to local foodbanks.

The produce follows its successful bid for 19 trees from Lancashire County Council's special orchards' fund.

Schools, faith and community groups, and parish and borough councils across Lancashire can apply for up to 25 trees from a range of species, including apple, pear, damson, plum, cherry and heritage trees, with some varieties able to bear fruit from the very first year.

The planting season for the trees runs from October to March, so now is the perfect time to apply.

Almost £30,000 of the funding has already been allocated, so there is around £19,000 left and applications will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the grant money runs out.

Saba Iftilchar, from Pennine Oaks, has revealed that their trees will be planted by local schoolchildren, the fruit will be free for the community to pick, and they will also be making jam from the fruit to donate to local foodbanks.

She said: "I’ve worked in the community for the last 15 years, mainly to get people out into green spaces. We applied for the orchard grant and we will be receiving 19 fruit trees.

"We applied for 25 trees but after I spoke to the Treescapes team, I realised that 19 was more realistic and right for the size of the site."

Cllr Shaun Turner, Lancashire County Council's environment boss, visited the group with Jenni from the its Treescapes team.

She said: "We also offer protection for the trees.

"This includes stakes, guards, ties, mulch - everything to give those trees a really good fighting chance to survive and grow fruit for your community. We have had 21 applications, but there's still money left, so we're really keen to get more groups to apply."

Cllr Turner said: "These grants enable community groups to apply for to five 25 fruit trees, including apples, pears, damsons, and plums.

"Community groups of any description, school, faith, voluntary groups of any type, even parish and town and district councils can apply for this grant."