Dunblane Orchard Gathering Overview
This mind map, created as a culmination of everything that had happened during the day, sums up the things that we thought needed to happen next to take our vision for orchards in Scotland forward. It was created collectively in the last session of the day - by people coming forward with their suggestions of the 'most important thing to do now'. The ideas were scribed by Fergus Walker, Elly Kinross and Eva Schonveld from Fife Diet.
- Collection of Knowledge
· Collect and record valuable information about skills, and about relative varieties, care and uses, as well as stories and history.
· Honour and pass on the knowledge of Scotland’s orchard mentors
· Crowd fund a reprint of John Butterworth’s book ‘Apples in Scotland’.
- Spreading the word and education
· There is a need for an on-going promotion of Scottish-grown orchard fruit—encouraging people to grow the trees, eat, share and buy/sell the fruit
· Orchard education should be part of the curriculum for excellence— children need to be able to try the fruit and get involved.
· “Give someone a local apple” campaign?
- Better access to available produce
· We need a readily available list of varieties and Scottish suppliers for fruit tastings for education.
· Better access to markets urgently needed.
- Land
· There is a need to identify common land, or unused spaces near you for the planting of new orchards.
- Centre of Excellence in Scotland
· There is a need for a Scottish equivalent of the Brogdale National Fruit Collection in Kent—which has over 3500 cultivars of orchard fruit
· This centre could be home to a collection of tree cultivars, books, and other resources.
· This centre could also provide education and promote Scottish fruit.
- Networked approach
· There is a need to keep communication ongoing between those present at the Dunblane Orchard Gathering and local groups.
· It is important not to replicate the good work already done by Scottish Orchards
· Setup of Orchard Collective Scotland Facebook group
Where Next?
We have set up a Facebook group: Orchard Collective Scotland, which you can visit here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/orchardcollectivescotland/
We are also holding a follow-up event, for those who are keen and able to make it - all are welcome.
Venue: Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh
Date: 21st February 2015
Time: 12:00 - 16:30
Get your tickets here (free!)!
We are also holding a follow-up event, for those who are keen and able to make it - all are welcome.
Venue: Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh
Date: 21st February 2015
Time: 12:00 - 16:30
Get your tickets here (free!)!