A pick your own (PYO) fruit orchard has been planted at a Norfolk farm as it seeks to find new revenues by bringing more customers onto the land.

The trees represent the latest diversification at Eves Hill Farm in Booton, near Reepham, which also hosts a camping and glamping site, and opened a farm shop in November.

The mixed orchard, containing 273 apple, pear and plum trees, was established with the help of a Norfolk County Council grant.

While some commercial fruit growers are ripping up orchards amid rising costs and dwindling returns, farmer Jeremy Buxton believes his project will help spread financial risks and draw custom to his farm's other enterprises, while creating nature habitats and storing carbon.

"The reason we decided to put in an orchard was our belief in putting people back in touch with food, and creating a hands-on experience for families," he said.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk farmer Jeremy Buxton with a volunteer planting fruit trees at Eves Hill Farm near Reepham - Picture: Jeremy BuxtonNorfolk farmer Jeremy Buxton with a volunteer planting fruit trees at Eves Hill Farm near Reepham - Picture: Jeremy Buxton (Image: Jeremy Buxton)

"We want to get people onto the farm to use all the other things we have here, like the campsite and the farm shop.

"It is pick your own, but the surplus fruit will go into the shop. 

"It is strengthening our business by diversifying, and spreading the risk. In a hot dry year, fruit will thrive when arable crops might be struggling. 

"Also, we are trying to plant as many plants, trees and hedgerows as we can for sequestering carbon.

"These apple trees each capture between 15-40kg of carbon per year. So our orchard could sequester between 4 and 10 tonnes of carbon per year. That's amazing."

Eastern Daily Press: A volunteer planting fruit trees at Eves Hill Farm near Reepham - Picture: Jeremy BuxtonA volunteer planting fruit trees at Eves Hill Farm near Reepham - Picture: Jeremy Buxton (Image: Jeremy Buxton)

A team of eight community volunteers helped to plant, tie and guard the young trees.

"It created a nice atmosphere, people chatting while they worked, so that alone got people onto the land and talking about food production," said Mr Buxton.

"They are all looking forward to coming back and picking the fruit off the trees they planted."

Eastern Daily Press: Fruit trees being planted at Eves Hill Farm near Reepham - Picture: Jeremy BuxtonFruit trees being planted at Eves Hill Farm near Reepham - Picture: Jeremy Buxton (Image: Jeremy Buxton)