Free fruit tree giveaway for Sheffield Council tenants

Residents have benefitted from some fruitful generosity after they were awarded trees to plant in their gardens.

Lucky council tenants won free fruit trees in a give-away by Sheffield Council which aimed to improve neighbourhoods and wellbeing.

Thirty people signed up to receive a free cherry or plum dwarf-tree last month within two hours of the offer being announced.

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Now trees have been given to residents who are planting them in gardens or on their balconies.

Christine Justice, from Totley, was one of the winners.

She said: “The tree’s wonderful. It’s growing really nicely, it’s really coming on.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get it when I applied. It’s the first thing I think I’ve ever won.

“We’re hopefully going to be eating the plums late summer and making plum pies and crumble.”

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Coun Jayne Dunn, cabinet member for housing at Sheffield Council, said: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to fund a small number of fruit trees for council tenants and I hope they enjoy them.

“They look great. They’re only dwarf trees so they won’t grow too big but will encourage bees and wildlife in people’s gardens as well as producing fruit.”

The trees were selected by the council’s Community Forestry Team which supports the planting of trees in parks and open spaces, and involves local people in improving their environment.

All trees have been allocated and the offer is now closed.

In the last year the council has come under fire for its roadside tree-felling policy which has sparked huge protests.