Just as Anglian Water’s 330-kilometre pipeline will leave the legacy of water supply, the community orchard will provide the people of Glinton with their own legacy above ground - 28 fruit trees that will harvest a variety of apples, pears, plums, gages, quinces and figs.

Kevin Barber, Project Lead at SPA, said: “We’re really proud of this project. While our pipeline is crucial for improving water resilience, we are committed to making a tangible difference on a local level, especially in the communities we work so closely with. As well as providing a source of fresh fruit, we hope it will bring a source of community and inspire the next generation to spend time in nature.”

Located alongside the community park in Glinton, the orchard was officially opened yesterday in an unveiling led by Glinton Parish Council.

The care of the trees is being handled by the Parish Council and the children of Peakirk-Cum-Glinton C of E Primary School, with the SPA team hosting an assembly on 13 February. Signs have been crafted by the children and hung on each tree to showcase the fruit each one produces.

Gerry Kirt, Chairman of Glinton Parish Council, said: “The community orchard is a testament to the collaborative spirit between teams within our community. It's a wonderful opportunity for residents to come together, and we look forward to seeing it thrive for years to come.”

SPA is building a water grid that will allow between 15 and 55 million litres of water to be moved from wetter to drier areas of the Anglian Water region. Without it, the region’s rapidly growing population and the visible impacts of climate change would mean that water demand would outstrip supply by 2030.

In addition, SPA has donated more than 2,500 books to primary schools and is proactively working with children on literacy development, planted thousands of trees to boost biodiversity, built special 'commuter' fences to help bats with their navigation and donated life-saving defibrillators to communities.