More than 500 fruit trees are being donated to over 100 schools as part of a campaign to create a national network of orchards.

Veolia, which is working with community action charity Groundwork and Nottinghamshire County Council, said the campaign aimed to help schools blossom with biodiversity.

Among the schools are seven in Nottinghamshire, which highlighted in their Veolia Sustainable Schools programme applications how they intended to integrate the trees into a learning programme for pupils.

Each orchard of up to five trees is intended to become a learning resource for pupils, empowering them to improve their local environment and combat climate change.

Veolia said it was placing the power of positive change in the hands of the future guardians of our planet.

Steven Newman, general manager for Veolia Nottinghamshire, said: “The extraordinary response to the Veolia Orchard campaign highlights how important trees are, not just for the environment but also for the positive impact they have on the education and wellbeing of school children in our local communities.”

Schools taking part include Crescent Primary School, Mansfield, and Healdswood Infant and Nursery School, Skegby.