The Boarding Orchard was launched by the Boarding Schools Association in 2014 and aims to be largest orchard, by distance, in the UK. It involves boarding schools joining the orchard by planting fruit trees in their grounds. The trees symbolise the ‘tree of knowledge’ and demonstrate each school’s commitment to growth and caring for the environment.
Since launch, schools across the UK – including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – have joined The Boarding Orchard, and trees have also been planted at boarding schools in Switzerland and the USA.
In March Epsom joined the imitative and planted two trees – one outside a boys’ boarding house, and one outside a girls’ boarding house – to reflect Epsom’s co-educational status. Rather than planting just a generic apple tree, a heritage apple variety which originated in Surrey was selected.
