A community orchard in South Queensferry has been described by locals as ‘one of the best community environmental projects’ the area has seen for some time.
Around 40 apple, pear, plum, cherry and damson trees have been planted at Hawthorn Bank as part of a project supported by Cala Homes (East).
Members of the community, Rotary Club and Queensferry Primary School recently helped bring the vision to life when dozens of volunteers pitched in to transform a previously derelict piece of land into a new space for locals to enjoy.
The project – supported by environmental group GreenFerry and landscapers Land Technology – will bring people together through a number of activities, including community ‘picking days’ when the trees produce their first fruits.
Philip Hogg, sales and marketing director at Cala Homes (East), said, “We are delighted to introduce this community orchard to what is already one of Scotland’s most beautiful towns and tight-knit communities. South Queensferry is renowned for its people-lead initiatives, and we were thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with local organisations and volunteers to help transform a previously unused piece of land into a fantastic resource for locals to enjoy for years to come.
“This orchard will not only act as a key focal point and gathering space for members of the community, but also brings a significant environmental benefit by increasing access to healthy, organic fruit and providing the perfect habitat for wildlife to thrive.”
Fiona Chandler, chair of GreenFerry, added, “To plant an orchard in just one day is an excellent achievement and we are absolutely delighted with the outcome. The community will benefit immensely from this project and there has already been a great deal of positive comments about the project. One local even said it was the best community environmental project the area has seen in quite some time, and we are incredibly proud to be part of that.”
Colin Smith, MD of Land Technology, commented, “We are delighted to work with Cala Homes (East) and GreenFerry on this project. The whole project was greatly uplifting for our team and we are proud to have helped create this wonderful resource for the community which will be utilised for years to come.”
As well as contributing towards building the orchard, Cala Homes (East) also provided help to restore a footpath in the neighbouring public garden space.
The housebuilder is currently building a range of properties at the new Queensferry Heights development in South Queensferry.
