Staines and Ashford councillor plants fruit trees to help make the borough green

Mrs Turner-Stewart spent £1000 from of her SCC member's allowance and enlisted the help of the Spelthorne tree wardens, who sourced and planted the cherry, plum, pear, apple, and peach trees.

The project is part of Mrs Tuner-Stewart's rural restoration project, which includes planting shrubs on busy roads to green the area up.

She said: "Spelthorne is the most urban area in the county and I was quite taken back by the greenery of other boroughs. When you cross over from Runnymede into Spelthorne you notice a bit of difference, so I want to make the area more green because we have beautifu areas in Surrey.

"The restoration project is growing, and continuing to green our streets, and in future years it will provide a communal, natural fruit source for residents."

Last week, Mrs Turner-Stewart also spent £1000 from her grant so Spelthorne Council could put up winter floral baskets on lamposts in Staines Road, Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, and Kingston Road and Edinburgh Drive, in Staines.

She has also allocated another planting near Shortwood Common, Staines, for December, and Buckland Primary School in Laleham will be given trees for their orchard.

Mrs Turner-Stewart said: "I wish to share the excitement that I see in my own children when they see spring blossom turn into tiny fruit. In time the orchards will provide fruit for those who do not have a garden of their own, and it should encourage the young to appreciate food off a tree."

Mrs Turner-Stewart hopes the trees will attract wildlife, and believes a natural environment leads to happiness.

The trees will not produce large crops for a few years, and Mrs Turner-Stewart plans to start a community scheme where residents can pick fruit if they help in some way.