Over 70 volunteers congregated in Roding Valley Meadow on Saturday to help plant a new community orchard.

The £36,500 orchard in Roding Valley Meadow, Buckhurst Hill has been funded by Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, charity Trees for Cities, the Mayor of London’s London Tree and Woodland Community Grants Scheme, and The Veolia Environmental Trust.

A Trees for Cities spokesman said: "We had a fantastic planting day on Saturday, the sun shone and over 70 volunteers helped us plant 36 mixed variety fruit trees.”

Councillor Gurdial Bhamra who attended the event said: ““This was an area that was overgrown and not serving much purpose. Trees for Cities has transformed it into a wonderful place for children to play and adults to enjoy.”