Central
Core Network - Membership Form
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Online
Orchard
Survey Form
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Central
Core Orchards Network :: Introduction |
The
Central Core Orchard Network was set up in 1998 in
response to the greatly increased
number of enquiries by both orchard owners and the general
public. The resurgence of interest had been building
steadily throughout the 1990s, but all the focus for
orchards within the UK was in England. All the management
advice for orchards came from "down south",
all the good ideas for community and school input into
new orchards or the safeguarding of existing orchards
came from the south. Yet it was obvious Scotland already
had a very rich heritage in apple, pear and plum orchards
and its own important historic varieties. Worryingly
- many of the orchards in Scotland (as elsewhere in the
UK) were being neglected or worse, built on, or just
felled because they were old and unproductive. They were
not remotely valued, either for their fruit or the wildlife
that uses such an important mosaic "habitat".
In the past decade, however, many groups have set up
their own projects or initiatives, seminars and workshops
have taken place all over Scotland and, more recently,
Festivals and special events have started to take place.
I think we can safely say that the focus for our orchards
now most definitely rests in Scotland!
The purpose of the Central Core Orchard Network is to
highlight the many groups and individuals who are playing
a pivotal part in safeguarding our orchard heritage.
Please use this website as an "information hub",
a springboard to other websites or to find out what is
going on throughout Scotland. If you have a project that
is not featured on these pages, please let us know. If
you have an event you would like publicised, please let
us know. If you have suggestions to improve the website
- again please let us know! That's what "networking" is
all about.
As you explore these pages and the many pages on other
organisation's websites, one thing becomes clear. Orchards
are many things to many people. The new orchards being
enthusiastically planted by local communities and schools,
as well as on local authority greenspace and in hospital
grounds will, in a very short time produce fruit that
needs to utilised. This opens doors to being part of
Local Food / Local Wellbeing Initiatives, will encourage
restaurants, schools, care homes and hospitals to use
the variety of produce in their meals, and has the potential
to help the local economy for small-scale producers to "add
value" to the fruit by making jams, jellies and
chutneys, juices, cider and specialist alcoholic drinks,
traybakes and ready meals.
There is now an increased need for advice on how to care
for these new orchards, so look out for the many orchard
management workshops and training courses that are becoming
available. Soon, there will be a Scrumpers' Network to
give essential advice on how to approach owners of fruit
trees and orchards and ask them to share their bounty.
Mature or "traditional" orchards are being
rediscovered, not just for their cultural history and
their wonderful mix of biodiversity (butterflies, bumblebees,
birds, bats, lichens and wildflowers), but simply to
enjoy. New wassailing traditions are being introduced
in the winter (usually January), poetry readings, singing
and music can all be part of a visit to an old orchard
(and increasingly to the newly-planted ones). Artists
are discovering just how diverse an orchard can be and
children are exploring the nooks and crannies of the
orchard and making their own connections with them.
So - whatever your particular interest in fruit trees
or orchards, please explore these pages - and the other
website links you will discover on the way. You may like
to consider joining our growing Network to play a part
in revitalising this unusual aspect of Scotland's cultural
history. Your interest and support will be greatly welcomed
whether you own just one fruit tree, an old orchard,
of if you want to encourage your local school or community
to set up a new orchard. |
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