• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Orchard Project

Bringing orchards into the heart of urban communities

  • Accredited Courses
  • Orchard Map
  • Become a member
  • Donate / Plant A Tree
  • About us
    • Contact us
    • Meet the team
    • Work for us
    • Volunteer for us
    • Our Strategic Plan
    • Our partners and funders
    • Corporate partnerships
    • Charity information and Impact Report
  • What we do
  • News
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Guides and advice
  • Local Fox Cider
    • #AppleDonors 2022
Home » News » Princess Anne (HRH) visits Saughton Park Orchard

Princess Anne (HRH) visits Saughton Park Orchard

Last week, we welcomed a royal visitor to one of the community orchards we support in Edinburgh. The Orchard Project been collaborating with City of Edinburgh Council and Friends of Saughton Park to improve their orchard as part of a large renovation of Saughton Park. Our Edinburgh-based Project Manager, Chris Macefield, explains:

Saughton Park has recently undergone a refurbishment, and HRH Princess Anne officially reopened the park on the 6th June. The Orchard Project, in partnership with Bulmers, were called in to assist with improving the orchard that lies within the park. We’ve provided trees, training, technical advice and tools for this community project.

HRH Princess Anne officially re-opens Saughton Park following an £8million refurbishment. Photo by Greg Macvean.

We supported the Friends of Saughton Park members by facilitating the planting of over 40 fruit trees in this historic walled garden, demonstrating how to grow trained trees, such as espaliers, cordons and fan forms. The fruit varieties planted include plum, apple, pear, quince, fig, peach and mulberry.

Sarah Bennett, one of the Friends of Saughton Park members, said “We started out by visiting other orchards and talking to fruit experts and tasting apples before we selected any varieties. It’s been great fun and fingers crossed we will soon have fruit to eat. As a group we are so excited at what lies ahead – we have plans to plant a wild fruit orchard and organise apple days and blossom picnics.”

HRH is the patron of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, which is another partner organisation involved in developing the park. The royal opening was a great celebration of the commitment from local residents and the groups active in supporting the park.

HRH Princess Anne in Edinburgh Photo by Greg Macvean

There are plans to develop further areas for fruit growing within the park, along with dedicated wildlife habitat zones, in addition to a ‘Physic Garden’ with lots of interesting medicinal and culinary herbs. To get involved in this exciting project, contact the Sarah Bennett on friendsofsaughtonpark@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Uncategorised

« Peter Andre joins us for a 24-hour Orchard Makeover with Bulmers
Cider House intern wanted! »

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Bringing orchards into the heart of urban communities.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Company Number: 06902160
Charity Number: 1139952

The Orchard Project (Cause) Ltd.
Fourth Floor The Archives
Unit 10 High Cross Centre
1 Fountayne Road
London
N15 4BE

© 2022 The Orchard Project · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Site by Charity & Biscuits