Six primary schools now have their own orchards growing thanks to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Great Dunmow Round Table.

The Fruitshare project was launched on Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Channel 4 series River Cottage to the Core last year. It was offering free fruit trees for schools to plant and incorporate their growth into their curriculum along with the eventual fruit.

The offer was oversubscribed within hours and schools in the Broadcast’s area missed out... so the Round Table stepped in.

The organisation contacted Mr Fearnley-Whittingstall directly to buy the trees for the local schools at a cost of over £1,000. In total 90 fruit trees – a mix of plum, pear and apple varieties – have now been planted by the children, teachers, parents and Round Table members at six schools in Great Dunmow, Takeley, Stebbing, Flitch Green and Great Easton.

Richard Johnson, president of Dunmow Round Table, said “What a great project. I met Hugh years ago when we were both environmental activists chained to trees in Botswana that were about to be destroyed for a new road.

“Now we have come together again to plant new trees for our children to enjoy, what a wonderful irony!”

Graeme Roy from the Fruitshare project added: ”It is amazing to see the enthusiasm of the kids whilst planting the trees, can’t wait till they are eating the fruit in the years to come.”