This qualification was developed in response to the successful establishment and running of the CFI Level 3 Certificate in Community Orcharding, with the intention that a Level 1 version of the course could be offered both alongside and separate from that qualification.

There is a growing interest in urban green spaces as a means of assisting community cohesion and allowing for outdoor spaces to be used for the benefit of people, to promote biodiversity and create wildlife habitats in cities, towns and villages. Community orchards are a good way of engaging people with nature. They have the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s fruit and nut provision, improving health and wellbeing, building community resilience, developing skills and providing cherished, nature-rich, community spaces used by a wide range of people.

With a growing number of new orchards and renewed interest in old orchards there is a need for people with the knowledge, skills and aptitude to create well-managed orchards as community spaces.