‘Soul-destroying’ theft of fruit from food bank orchard

THOUSANDS of pounds of fruit destined for a food bank has been stolen from a community orchard.

Thieves stripped apples, plums, damsons and pears from 70 trees at The Secret Orchard in Lewes, East Sussex.

The produce was destined for Malling Food Bank and a cider-making initiative by the Helping Arms Eco Project to supply local pubs and raise funds.

Mathew Moulding, the project founder, said the raid, which removed the whole of the first crop from the trees planted just three years ago, was “soul-destroying”.

“It’s a kick in the teeth that sets us back but luckily the trees themselves were not damaged,” he added.

The 10-acre Secret Orchard was targeted three months ago when £2,000 of chicken coops were stolen, denying the group egg production. Two crops of vegetables were also stolen last year and one this year.

Police are investigating the raid and Helping Arms has offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the culprits.