Urban orchards plan starting to bear fruit throughout city

IT HAS planted the seed of an idea which has the potential to blossom across Edinburgh.

The unlikely creation of a fruit orchard in one of the most deprived areas of the city is set to be followed by projects city-wide.

The city council-backed initiative could see school grounds, parks, allotments and even back greens used for growing fruit.

The Evening News told last year how a community initiative had led to an orchard with apple, pear, plum and cherry trees being created in Wester Hailes.

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Now council staff are working with two separate organisations to investigate more sites.

Mark Turley, director of the services for communities department, said: "The aim is to provide a range of managed orchard sites for the benefit of local communities. A range of council staff are advising and assisting with back green development, and also with the planting of fruiting species of trees and bushes."

One of the organisations involved is the Scottish Children's Orchard, which has piloted a scheme in Glasgow. Over the last three years it has established a network of people interested in developing Edinburgh projects.

Chairman John Hancox said: "We've run a lot of workshops explaining the context of what we're trying to do. We've planted school orchards, such as one at Ferryhill Primary School, as well as other orchards for local community groups.

"We've also done work with the Botanics, the Edinburgh Mela multicultural festival, an apple day at the Scottish Parliament and planting in Craigmillar."

"The main aim of the project is to create 'fruitful cities', ideally with a fruit tree on every street that children can plant and watch grow. As the children grow the tree grows and they're able to watch its development, then bring their own children in the years to come and pick fruit from it.

"Part of the agenda is to try to get kids to realise that fruit grows on trees, and that freshly picked fruit always tastes better. It changes their attitude towards fruit and gives them the benefit of the fruit's nutrition. It's also about getting people active and having a stake in the local environment.

"I planted a tree in George Square in Glasgow and every time I walk past it I take a great deal of pride in my achievement. I want the people of Edinburgh to have a similar sense of achievement, and to one day walk past a tree they've planted and say, 'I did that'."