Schools Plant Mini Orchards

After a series of successful biodiversity education campaigns such as Love Our Ladybirds, Central Scotland Green Network Trust are turning their attention to Orchards for 2015.

Orchards are a wonderful, but sadly diminishing resource, with many of the small orchards in our traditional growing areas of the Forth Valley and Clyde Valley being replaced by commercial orchards in England or Europe.

The “Plant a mini orchard” campaign aims to work with 30 primary schools in the Clyde and Avon Valley areas to help them create and look after an orchard in their schools grounds.

The official definition of an orchard is 5 fruit trees, so each school will be provided with 5 apples trees, along with all the resources needed to plan, plant and look after the orchard. Included in the pack is advice on all aspects of orchard management and maintenance, as well as a Teachers' Resource Pack which shows how orchards can be used in the classroom for all areas of the curriculum.

CSGNT are working closely on the project with several local community initiatives to provide support to schools where possible. Larkhall Community Growers, the Castlebank Centre, and the Clyde Valley Orchard Group are all providing valuable assistance to the project. Funding has been received from Scottish Natural Heritage, The Heritage Lottery Fund through the Clyde & Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and CSGNT.

Schools are being contacted about receiving an pack, with nearly 25 schools already participating. For more information on the campaign and how to get involved, visit the CSNGT website under 'related links', or contact Emilie Wadsworth at CSGNT on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..