In an industrial area surrounded by concrete, one man is kicking off two orchards for kids to harvest a variety of fruit from year-round.

Murray Lilley is the site manager at a townhouse complex located at Owens Place, backed onto State Highway 2 in Mount Maunganui.

He believes the area could use a “whole lot more green space” and wants tenants and their kids to benefit from having access to fruit “straight off the tree”.

With avocado and kiwifruit orchards being a big part of the Bay of Plenty economy, Murray also believes his fruit orchard is a great way for kids to learn about fruit growing and harvesting.

“Kids often don’t know about horticulture. We’ve got mandarins, apples, grapes, feijoas, along with kiwifruit and passionfruit on the way. It’ll keep us ticking over the different seasons.”

Murray says the first proper harvest is still at least a year away, but kids living nearby are already all hands on deck to help out with the project.

“Kids from these townhouses are very eager to get their hands on it. The other day I had some stencils out and they came down to help me spray the signage on.”

Murray has been in property management for 16 years, and says he sees people struggling now more than ever with rising rents and interest rates.

“Rents are put up to cover the cost for landlords, but the poor tenants don’t get anything out of it.

“In property management, we can’t give many discounts or anything, but what we can do is provide something like this for their kids; bring their shopping bill down and make sure kids don’t go without.” The reception from the tenants has been “really supportive” so far, according to Murray, along with businesses like Mitre 10, ITM and Goodwood which have provided the materials to make his orchard dream a reality.

“People love living here and think this is absolutely great for the kids – it will be great for everyone to show them where fruit comes from.”

Before the orchards kicked off, Murray went to the body corporate behind the complex to request the space be used for something which could benefit everyone.

“They jumped on and said: ‘We’ve got to spend the money landscaping the area, so let’s spend it on something useful’ and were very supportive.”

Murray says sometime in the next few months there will be an official opening celebration with a barbecue to get everyone in the complex involved in the progress of the orchards.

There will also be additional signage put up to thank the companies involved who have helped supply materials.

“Eventually this area will be all under the trees.

“I’ll be here long-term so I want to see this project through. It’s been rewarding seeing the excitement and reactions.”