Created by artist Annie Lord The Neighbouring Orchard project began in 2021 involving the planting of apple trees in local front and shared gardens across Portobello, Craigmillar, Craigentinny and Musselburgh.
NEWS
Additional support from The Mushroom Trust has enabled us to extend the project into areas of Craigentinny, Restalrig and Lochend during spring 2024, with 200 apple trees now planted across the whole Neighbouring Orchard project.
Read Recent Press:
‘Edinburgh project to turn neighbourhood into orchard‘ The Herald, 1 Dec 2023
‘Apple tree growers wanted for Edinburgh’s community orchard with a difference‘ Edinburgh Evening News, 30 Nov 2023
The Neighbouring Orchard project first offered young apple trees to households across Portobello, Musselburgh and Craigmillar, providing the possibility of apple harvests in years to come. With this project starting at a time of physical distance from each other, during the pandemic, we looked to plant trees as a way to forge links with people in neighbouring streets and suburbs. This individually planted, socially distant orchard is rooted in community and as the trees grow, bud, blossom and fruit we look forward to a time when we can enjoy the harvests.
The trees are planted in front gardens or shared gardens, ensuring that they are visible to the wider community, acting as markers for people on daily walks, seen from bus windows and from other household’s windows.
The apple varieties offered each have a historic link to the area, having previously been grown in local orchards in the 19th century. Most apple trees need to have different varieties of apple trees nearby in order to be pollinated. The Neighbouring Orchard trees will form a network across individual gardens, linked together by bees and other pollinators who will fly between them.
The project was supported initially by funding from the National Lottery Awards for All Fund. In 2021 further funding from Creative Scotland and Musselburgh Common Good Fund (East Lothian Council) was received to further develop the project, with in 2022 the publishing of The Neighbouring Orchard publication including interviews with a number of the growers. In 2024 further funding from The Mushroom Trust also enabled the extension of the project to another 40 growers within Craigentinny, Lochend and Restalrig.
During 2023 a series of Walking Maps were started to be produced, which we plan to add to over time. Designed by artist David Lemm, with illustrations and text by Annie Lord, they detail locations of a number of the planted trees encouraging walking between. Copies of the maps are available in local libraries, or if you wish to receive a copy posted to you please email info@artwalkporty.co.uk
Growing Tips | Useful Links for growers
Pruning – The Orchard Project is a great resource to learn everything you need to know about caring for your apple tree. Their overview of pruning is very clear and easy to understand. https://www.theorchardproject.org.uk/guides_and_advice/pruning-apple-trees/
This short video shows you how to prune a one year maiden tree: https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/gardening-advice/fruit-tree-advice/video-pruning-maiden-fruit-tree-after-planting
And this video shows the pruning of a two year tree: https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/gardening-advice/fruit-tree-advice/video-pruning-two-year-old-fruit-tree
The most important thing to remember about pruning is that it should be done in the winter and you should cut the branches with a sharp pair of secateurs to avoid damaging the wood. Pruning encourages strong growth but it’s worth bearing in mind that unpruned trees will carry on growing just fine – they just might not be as productive.
Pollination – Apple trees are pollinated by bees and insects. Most apple trees are not self fertile and so need to be close enough to other varieties of apple which will cross pollinate them. The other trees in The Neighbouring Orchard will act as these cross pollinators – helping your tree to set fruit.
Mulch – Mulching is a way of providing important nutrients to your tree as well as helping it to retain moisture. It’s particularly important in the first couple of years when the tree is becoming established. To do this add a layer of either compost, leaf mould or wood chip in a ring around your tree, keeping it clear from the trunk to avoid rot. Here are The Orchard Project talking about the joys of mulch!
https://www.theorchardproject.org.uk/blog/mulch-ado-about-nothing/
Diseases and Problems – Apple trees are sturdy but here is a link on how to deal with potential problems. Most are easily dealt with without the need for any specialist supplies. The key ones to look out for are scab and canker which can be more common in damp environments.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=769
Download planting guide (pdf)
Recent Press
The Herald:
‘Edinburgh project to turn neighbourhood into orchard‘ 1 Dec 2023
Read here
Edinburgh Evening News:
‘Apple tree growers wanted for Edinburgh’s community orchard with a difference‘ 30 Nov 2023
Read here
The Neighbouring Orchard by Annie Lord:
Article: The Neighbourly Orchard, Linseed Journal, Volume 1: The Apple, Nov 2022
Review: Caught By The River, by William Arnold, Read here
Interview: BBC Radio Scotland, with Nicola Meighan, Sept 2022
The Sunday Times:
‘Neighbours’ orchard rooted in lockdown isolation blossoms in Edinburgh gardens’
Jean West, July 26, 2020
Read here
Project Diary and previous events
2024
newLEAVES Network event & walk, Portobello – curated by Dee Heddon and Chris Freemantle – June 2024
Apple Tree Collection Day at Craigentinny Community Garden – March 2024
A further 40 apple trees were provided to residents, community groups and schools based within Craigentinny, Lochend and Restalrig.
2023
Walking Map Launch Walks with Annie Lord – September 2023
Walk 1: Portobello – Cultivating Connections to consider the impact of community growing in Portobello and its connection to a wider ecosystem: from the earthworms that mulch the soil to the moths that take shelter in the trees’ leaves.
Walk 2: Bingham & Craigmillar – Pollinating Populations to consider the role of pollinators: solitary bees, wasps and moths, paying close attention to new planting and the role of weeds.
2022
Book Launch – The Neighbouring Orchard by Annie Lord in conversation with Christina Riley, The Nature Library
Thu 1 September 2022, Portobello Bookshop
Tree Walk with Annie Lord
Sun 4 September 2022, Portobello
The Apple Feast, Annie Lord, with wild chef/forager, Judith Lamb
Sun 11 September 2022, Portobello
Apple Tree Collection Day at Craigentinny & Telferton Allotments
March 2022
2021
Pruning Workshop with John Hancox at Portobello Community Orchard
November 2021
Charcoal Making Workshop with Annie Lord at Eastfield shared growing space September 2021
Drawing Workshop with Annie Lord at Bellfield Community Garden
September 2021
‘Planted’ group show exhibition at Art Walk Porty Project Room (Portobello High Street) with wrapped apples containing stories collected from Annie in conversation with many of the growers – written by Annie Lord -July/Aug 2021
Annie Lord Artist Talk with Urban Tree Festival – May 2021
Apple Drawing Classes (by Annie Lord) held via Zoom – April 2021
Apple Tree Collection days and deliveries – Jan-March 202
2020
Audio story written and performed by Annie Lord, as part of exhibition at Figgate Lane Community Garden (Art Walk Porty ‘All At Sea’ programme) – October 2020
Annie Lord is a performer and visual artist based in Edinburgh. She trained in sculpture at The Slade School of Fine Art (London) before developing her work to encompass storytelling and live performance. Annie’s work explores geographic and cultural histories and the ways in which they shape the present. Her performances draw on local history as well as having a fascination with material processes.
If you are a grower as part of our project you are welcome to join our Facebook Group to stay in touch with many of the other growers sharing images and raising any queries about your tree
@Neighbouring Orchard
If you have any questions about the project please email us at appletrees@artwalkporty.co.uk
