Scottish Orchards

Scottish Orchards is a new organisation for anyone interested in promoting and developing orchards in Scotland to encourage people to join who share our vision of a more fruitful Scotland.

They are keen to gather in information on apple days and related orchard events for the next Fruitful Scotland newsletter. Please send any items for inclusion by by 10th August.

Their aims are

To promote planting and maintaining new and established orchards in Scotland

To maintain and develop knowledge and skills and provide learning opportunities

To help preserve the heritage of Scotland’s orchards by establishing a national mapping database of orchards and fruit varieties

To encourage sustainability and biodiversity and improve the local environment

To create markets for locally grown fruit

To promote healthy eating and access to local fruit at affordable prices

To promote planting of fruit trees into design of rural and urban environments

The benefits of joining this group include:

• A regular newsletter, with members’ news, funding opportunities, and articles on sustainable fruit issues
• Membership of our e-mail groups
• Regular funding round-ups; information on potential sources of funding at a national, regional and local level
• Contact with and support from other members, with a wide range of expertise, through our seminars and issue-specific and local  meetings, and opportunities to participate in project visits
• Advice on a range of issues around sustainable fruit growing

Membership of Scottish Orchards is free – however they would be grateful for a donation – and would suggest £20 as a suitable annual donation for individuals. In kind contributions – in terms of voluntary work and ideas, would also be very welcome.