Fruitful Lanarkshire was a three-year National Lottery Heritage Fund project which provided accredited orchard management training to people who were on benefits, a low income, or unemployed.
Our aim was to help preserve the local orchard heritage in this part of Scotland and improve the lives of socio-economically marginalised people, by giving them new skills that could improve their mental health and potentially lead to employment.
There were some challenges around initially recruiting people to take part and drop out rates, but we adapted to help overcome this, such as creating a less academic version of our existing Certificate in Community Orcharding (CICO) course. As we were working with people facing significant levels of mental health issues, anxiety and precarious life situations (economic, health, housing) it involved much higher levels of pastoral support than our usual courses.
But this project had profound benefits for those taking part; increasing skills, confidence and improving mental health. It also had knock-on benefits for the local area through connections made with existing sites, with 12 new Orchard Mentors now engaged in creating or helping to manage community orchards in their area.
During the course, one participant gave this feedback: “A year ago I didn’t leave the house without my carer, so I know my progress has been awesome. Gardening is what gave me the tools to deal with my trauma and improve my life, and I am definitely on the right track. I appreciate these sessions so much.”
“We have seen a strong and cohesive group emerge from the three years of CICO, with links between alumni across the Scottish central belt and a thirst to get involved with more orchard work, with a really solid level of skill and knowledge,” said Fergus Walker, project manager. He added that he’d seen “a pride in the students after having gained a new qualification” and strong links formed between this new group of orchardists and the sites visited during the course.
Achievements included:
• 45 people on a low income attending our workshops – 23 graduated with a Level 3 qualification
• Seven existing orchards improved
• Three new orchards planted
• 100 local orchard staff and volunteers given training
Read the full report: Fruitful North Lanarkshire Final Evaluation.