Many of our orchards are surprisingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Not only is physical damage caused by, for example, late frosts or strong winds, but the stress caused by unpredictable weather makes our trees much more vulnerable to pests and diseases. This all has the effect of reducing yields. So what strategies […]
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Has your apple pie run dry? 10 alternatives to use up surplus apples
It’s September and the apples are in abundance! If you’re lucky (and skilled) enough to have a great crop of apples this year, but unsure what to do with them, this post is for you. Perhaps your relatives have had enough jars of apple chutney for Christmas, and there is only so much apple crumble […]
London Orchard Polycultures: strength in diversity
Why we might want to plant more than apples, plums and pears in our community orchards The Orchard Project’s logo shows an apple, plum and pear because these are some of the most reliable and commonly found top fruits in community orchards. However, there are several reasons why we should be being more adventurous, where […]
10 years of The Orchard Project – What a decade!
Throughout this year, 2019, we are celebrating 10 years of our existence as a charity. Some of you may have attended our fantastic 10th Birthday party in May, which was a great way to thank all the volunteers, staff and supporters who have helped us reach this tree-mendous milestone! Here’s our CEO, Kath Rosen, with […]
The Landscape of Loneliness: Making Space for Nature
We may not give it our full attention, but the built environment around us shapes our mood, our thoughts, our health and our relationships. It’s not just the dimensions of our houses, flats and rooms, but the life between buildings – the public spaces. Green spaces especially are known to improve the quality of city […]
Save the Hounslow Wonder!
The delicious Hounslow Wonder apple was once a forgotten variety, with the known population of these trees at a total of just four in the UK! Fortunately, The Orchard Project is working with community orchards in Hounslow to bring back their local heritage apple. Our London Project Manager, Jack McCrickard, explains his quest to save […]
Designing the Alexandra Park Food Forest
We talk to Max Johnson, from Alexandra Park’s local community, about Glasgow’s first food forest and it’s collaborative design.
Community Orchards – Open or Closed?
Many of our community groups often find themselves having to make a choice between creating an open or restricted access orchard…
Can you solve the case of the mystery apples?
New team member, and acting Chief Executive, Neil Kingsnorth found some apple trees still heaving with fruit in a car park in Warrington last month, and he’s got some questions he needs your help with.
The Amazing World of Apple Varieties
This dark, cold time of the New Year is a very exciting and hopeful time in the orcharding calendar. Now is the time to plant fruit trees and more thrillingly decide what varieties of fruit you want to eat for the next 80 or so years.