The Forestry Commission is to undertake a new £4 million scheme to rejuvenate cherry orchards in the historic Wyre forest in Worcestershire.

Three old cherry orchards near Bewdley will be the first to see the benefit of the Forestry commission’s funding backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Grant Scape and Sita Trust.

The Forestry Commission’s Gail Atkinson, project manager of the Grow with Wyre Landscape Partnership scheme, told Country Life: "Some of the trees are more than 80 years old. As well as planting new trees and pruning the old ones, we’ve taken cuttings, and grafting is enabling us to keep the local varieties.

“We were originally approached by locals who knew there was a little-known but rich orchard history in the forest.”

The move will allow 15 apple, plum, pear, damson and cherry orchards to be rejuvenated and a crop-sharing and juicing operation to be set up.

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