the kings award for voluntary Service

Issued 14th November 2025

"As part of the King’s Birthday Honours Colwall Orchard Group has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) in recognition of their support and service to their local community. The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (previously Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service) is the highest award given to UK volunteer groups, being equivalent to the MBE for an individual. This award wA announced in a special Gazette supplement on Friday 14th November.

Colwall Orchard Group (COG) is one of 280 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, is a reminder of all the ways volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them. 

Edward Harley CBE, Lord-Lieutenant for Herefordshire, said: “I am delighted that the Colwall Orchard Group has been awarded this honour. It demonstrates how volunteers can come together to support each other and also create opportunities for the wider community to enjoy and learn about their beautiful surroundings.”

Based in Colwall, the Colwall Orchard Group (COG) restores and celebrates traditional orchards, promotes wellbeing and connects people with nature. It’s a wide remit and its work can only be done by having a large team of enthusiastic volunteers who meet throughout the year on a weekly basis, come rain or shine, to give their time and expertise to carry out the restoration and maintenance of traditional orchards, to plant new orchards, to create and improve wildflower meadows, lay traditional hedges, create wildlife ponds and work with local schools and community groups.

COG volunteers have worked together to create a new public footpath, wildflower meadows and traditional seating in the orchards enabling the community to come and visit, enjoy, and learn about the countryside. 

COG’s volunteers host and arrange popular annual community events such as the Blossom Picnic, Wassail, Apple Day, Yuletide Fair, Meadow Walks and a Summer Solstice Celebration bringing the village together to celebrate its local heritage.

John Stock nominated the Colwall Orchard Group for the Award.  Colwall Parish Council and the Colwall Primary School headmistress submitted supporting letters back in 2024 which underlined the Group’s remarkable contribution and successes.  Colwall Parish Council says: 

“In the years since COG’s establishment the Group’s achievements have been truly impressive and exceeding what could be expected of a local community organisation, with impacts reaching far beyond the boundaries of the Parish - equally through education, collaborative work with larger organisations and through environmental impact. 

The magnitude and impact of COG’s work, as well as its importance for the local community, would truly be difficult to overstate.  They raised thousands in grants investing in nature, dug tonnes of soil, affected millions of blooms and bees, produced smiles and continue to change lives and the world around for the better.” 

Chair of Colwall Orchard Group, Lindsay Williams, says; “Colwall Orchard Group has over 200 members of whom 81 are regular volunteers. There are no paid staff and volunteers run every aspect of COG contributing the equivalent of seven full time annual staff. We meet every Friday with an average of 32 people working on improving the local environment. There are regular opportunities to learn, and each volunteer brings something unique to contribute to the group. COG has become a community itself where volunteers support each other, nature and the wider community.”

Colwall Orchard Group will receive the award crystal and certificate from the Lord-Lieutenant for Herefordshire, Mr Edward Harley, OBE at a ceremony being arranged for next spring. In addition, two volunteers from Colwall Orchard Group will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s Award."

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