Pendle Borough Council is inviting the community to create orchards with leftover funds.

The council was allocated £19,000 by DEFRA's Coronation Living Heritage Fund in 2023 to plant orchards in honour of King Charles III's coronation.

Funding remains to plant more trees this winter.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, leader of Pendle Council, said: "This is a great way to add more greenery to our borough and commemorate the King’s coronation.

"This funding will help schools, businesses and community groups who would like to mark the royal occasion, but do not have the funds to do so."

Eligible applicants include town and parish councils, schools, community groups, residents' associations, businesses, and landowners with publicly accessible land.

The orchards must also be publicly accessible, or accessible to a 'significant number of people', as in the case of schools.

They can include any number of trees larger than five, with options including apples, pears, quinces, greengages, plums, walnuts, hazelnuts, cobnuts and cherries.

Phil Riley, the council's green spaces manager, said: "It is anticipated the orchards will bring multiple benefits.

"Orchards provide a local source of healthy organic food for communities and schools and will help residents that are involved in their planting feel greater connection to their local green spaces.

"Orchards are also important spaces for wildlife.

"They are essential foraging habitats for birds, such as redwings and little owls, and a host of invertebrates, including the rose chafer and red-headed cardinal beetle."

Applications are now open and can be completed on the council's website.