A family-run fruit nursery is looking to help companies in the county off-set their carbon footprint by planting rare fruit trees.

Grow, based in Mersham, near Ashford, says its project can off-set a ton of carbon with every 100 trees planted.

Hundreds of community sites – such as schools, hospital grounds and community land – have signed up to the scheme with trees planted once sponsored by a local business.

The apple trees planted will be taken from cuttings from the National Fruit Collection at Brodgale, Faversham, helping restore rare varieties.

Nursery director Donna Cooper said: “This is about providing businesses with the opportunity to do good and feel good – doing their bit in the fight against climate change, feeding their local community, and bringing biodiversity to the area. All while helping to restore special varieties of heritage fruit trees on the edge of extinction.

“Our carbon offset programme is tailored to every business, including which sites and communities they would like to benefit from the apple trees they’re sponsoring. We advise which tree varieties from the national collection are most suited to the soil and conditions at their chosen planting sites.”