With rising food prices biting into already stretched household budgets, Transition Southampton is helping local residents save money and maintain a healthy diet, while also supporting local wildlife and becoming more environmentally friendly, through its bulk buy fruit tree scheme. Pic: © Matt Doggett

Through the TREEmendous bulk buy scheme, Southampton residents and community groups can buy apple, pear, plum and greengage trees for less than ten pounds. New for this year are blackcurrant bushes for five pounds.

“Our main focus is to help people live a little more sustainably and to bring communities together and enjoy having fruit trees in their neighbourhood,” said project organiser Polly Whyte.

Establishing strong roots

Now in its third year, nearly 200 trees have been bought through TREEmendous and planted across the city, including at 15 local schools and groups who have had trees bought and donated to them by members of the public.

Bargate Ward resident Nina Lambert said: “I bought two apple trees through the scheme as I was dismayed to find established fruit and nut trees being replaced by parking spaces in the Bedford Place area, and wanted to play my part in supporting local wildlife. I’ve planted my trees outside my largest window and look forward to enjoying blossom and fruit in the future.”

Transition Southampton urges anyone who knows of a community space that would benefit from a fruit tree to get in touch via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

No space is too small, as the project says the easy to grow fruit trees are under two years old, so can be trained – even to grow in large pots.

Order forms can be downloaded from: www.transitionsouthampton.org/trees

Orders need to be placed by December 31, 2012 and will be available to collect on February 9, 2013 at Ropewalk Community Garden. During collection, TREEmendous volunteers will be on hand to give advice and tips.