Orchard and Wild Harvest Project
The ‘Orchards and Wild Harvest Project’ was launched in March 2009 by planting fruit trees at Kirkcudbright Academy and at Castle Douglas ‘Activity and Resource Centre’.
The orchard project is managed by South West Community Woodlands Trust and works closely with the Crichton Carbon Centre to facilitate the planting of a minimum of 1000 fruit and nut trees in Dumfries and Galloway over the next two years.
The aim of the project is to encourage the people of Dumfries and Galloway to plant and eat locally grown fruit and nuts in order to promote health and wellbeing, enhance local biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions. The project is funded by people buying a tree as a donation to the project, gifting a tree for Christmas, birthdays, christening, or as a memorial. The gift recipient will receive a certificate of planting.
With the assistance of landowners, Forestry Commission and community groups it is envisaged that trees and shrubs bearing edible fruits such as Elder, Rowan, Hazel, Crabapple, Damson and traditional local orchard varieties will be planted in school grounds, community orchards, in hedgerows - particularly along footpaths to enhance the walking experience, and along the national cycle route to enhance the local cycling experience creating the ‘fruit routes of Dumfries and Galloway’.
Reducing the carbon footprint of the region is fundamental to the project and can be achieved by encouraging walking, cycling, planting trees as a leisure activity, and eating locally produced fruit rather than imported varieties.
The project co-ordinater Jools Cox said, ‘We want to celebrate the seasons by helping people hold local blossom and fruit events throughout the region at food town events, farmers markets and country fairs. We want to run orchard tours, juicing and tasting sessions, storytelling, cookery demonstrations and link up with local jam and wine producers.
The taste of a fresh crisp sweet apple in season is something many people have forgotten, I want kids to walk through trees laden with blossom and humming bees, and experience the pleasure of gathering and eating locally grown fresh fruit.
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The orchard project is managed by South West Community Woodlands Trust and works closely with the Crichton Carbon Centre to facilitate the planting of a minimum of 1000 fruit and nut trees in Dumfries and Galloway over the next two years.
The aim of the project is to encourage the people of Dumfries and Galloway to plant and eat locally grown fruit and nuts in order to promote health and wellbeing, enhance local biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions. The project is funded by people buying a tree as a donation to the project, gifting a tree for Christmas, birthdays, christening, or as a memorial. The gift recipient will receive a certificate of planting.
With the assistance of landowners, Forestry Commission and community groups it is envisaged that trees and shrubs bearing edible fruits such as Elder, Rowan, Hazel, Crabapple, Damson and traditional local orchard varieties will be planted in school grounds, community orchards, in hedgerows - particularly along footpaths to enhance the walking experience, and along the national cycle route to enhance the local cycling experience creating the ‘fruit routes of Dumfries and Galloway’.
Reducing the carbon footprint of the region is fundamental to the project and can be achieved by encouraging walking, cycling, planting trees as a leisure activity, and eating locally produced fruit rather than imported varieties.
The project co-ordinater Jools Cox said, ‘We want to celebrate the seasons by helping people hold local blossom and fruit events throughout the region at food town events, farmers markets and country fairs. We want to run orchard tours, juicing and tasting sessions, storytelling, cookery demonstrations and link up with local jam and wine producers.
The taste of a fresh crisp sweet apple in season is something many people have forgotten, I want kids to walk through trees laden with blossom and humming bees, and experience the pleasure of gathering and eating locally grown fresh fruit.
.
Summer Pruning Course July 18th 2010
Sunday 18th July 2pm fruit tree 'Summer Pruning' course Barony College, Parkgate Dumfries £5 booking essential
to book and to see about lift sharing please phone Jools 01556 503649
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to book and to see about lift sharing please phone Jools 01556 503649
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It's official - planting fruit trees is a good thing for children
Jools was introduced to the Queen on her recent trip to Galloway. This was to highlight the work of the Orchard Project and the Queen asked about the project and agreed that planting fruit trees was very good for children.
Further information about fruit trees
Click on the link below to find out more about fruit trees including local suppliers.
| fruit_tree_info_sheet.doc |
Pruning fruit trees
Click on the link below to find out more about pruning fruit trees.
| pruning_notes.doc |
Making apple juice by hand
Belle gets to make the best apple juice ever and then drink it...
The Orchard and Wild Harvest project will also assist in the mapping of existing fruit trees and orchards and collect information on varieties that do well in Dumfries and Galloway in order to help others choose trees for specific locations. This information will be collated for the Local Biodiversity Action Plan database of orchard trees and some of the key points will be published in 2011.
If anyone wants to be involved in the project, knows of an area of land that would benefit from fruit and nut trees, has information about ancient orchards, new orchards, specific varieties or would like to donate or purchase a gift tree for the project please contact Jools Cox 100A Queen Street, Castle Douglas DG7 1EH 01556 503649 joolscox@tiscali.co.uk
Click below for a copy of our leaflet or to download a donation form
If anyone wants to be involved in the project, knows of an area of land that would benefit from fruit and nut trees, has information about ancient orchards, new orchards, specific varieties or would like to donate or purchase a gift tree for the project please contact Jools Cox 100A Queen Street, Castle Douglas DG7 1EH 01556 503649 joolscox@tiscali.co.uk
Click below for a copy of our leaflet or to download a donation form
| donate-a-tree-form.pdf |
| orchardsfinalleaflet.pdf |
Orchard Project latest Newsletter
Click below to read the latest Orchard and Wild Harvest newsletter.
| orchard_and_wild_harvest_newsletter_autumn_2009.doc |
Current projects
Current planting projects requiring donations- let us know if you have a project to be added to the list
World Peace Society Auldgirth - Damson Grove
Dalbeattie Forest Community Partnership - Fruit in the forest
Moffat GROW ALLOTT - Community Orchard
Castle Douglas ARC - Garden Orchard
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Caerlaverock
Moffats 'Lets Live Local' Orchard Project
World Peace Society Auldgirth - Damson Grove
Dalbeattie Forest Community Partnership - Fruit in the forest
Moffat GROW ALLOTT - Community Orchard
Castle Douglas ARC - Garden Orchard
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Caerlaverock
Moffats 'Lets Live Local' Orchard Project