Birds singing, apples glistening on trees. It’s not a scene most of us would associate with prisons. But that’s exactly what those at The Orchard Project hope to achieve.
The charity is partnering with the Ministry of Justice to create an orchard in every prison in England and Wales. As well as boosting fruit production and biodiversity, the project helps inmates become more resilient (and less likely to reoffend) by giving them horticulture skills.
Alex Boscarino, activities manager at Manchester’s Thorn Cross Prison, said: “The men often have mental health issues, so by giving them the responsibility of looking after the orchard, it gives them a purpose. They can see the progress – the impact that their loving and caring [is having] on the trees.”
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