Milngavie Orchard Project

Orchard work dates set.
We've set dates for May and June work days (10/5 and 14/6 from 1:30 to 4). Maybe these will be the last ever if planning permission goes through and we loose the space but maybe not. Either way it would be good to clear up the space and the shed and tunnel, take an inventory of what we have so we know what to move in the way of tools and maybe fruit bushes.
Hope to see you there, especially old orchard friends, come and enjoy it again before it's gone.

EDC have lodged a planning application to rebuild the Milngaive nursery but to expand it so that the school orchard and growing space will be heavily impacted, all green space up to the pitch will be under concrete.

EDC Planning Application for the New Early Years Centre.
Comments have to be logged on the website by 12th Jan (I think).
Application number is TP/ED/25/0670
https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/services/a-z-of-services/planning-building-standards/planning-applications-search/
https://planning.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T6YQ7VGJFXH00

There are 40 documents but in brief everything up to the MUGA pitch will be gone. The new centre is surrounded by large outdoor spaces, all hardstanding though. There will be a 1.8m high retaining wall between the back of the Early Years Centre and the MUGA pitch.
The planning proposal does not consider any implications for the school and loss of outdoor green space.
The proposal states that the loss of the green space is mitigated by "improving" the remaining space, these improvements will only work if EDC maintain them and if kids are kept off the space.
No consideration to the councils growing spaces policy.
Couple of pictures below

The Early Years Centre was supposed to be rebuilt on the site of the janitor's cottage but EDC abandoned this as planning wouldn't be approved as the building wouldn't be considered in keeping with the area, therefore they are going to take away the orchard and over 50% of the schools green outdoor space. This rational of a building over habitat is in my opinion mad.

Council have put up a planning consultation to replace the nursery building. The entire orchard, apart from the 2 espalier rows is going. They are "landscaping" everything and removing pretty much all planting.

Orchard work day is cancelledcdue to insane rain.

Just a reminder that this Sunday is an orchard work day. Start time is 13:30 as usual.
Hope to see you there.

Just a couple of photos of the orchard team, one a long standing member and the other a mum and daughter new to the team. We are really friendly and it is a great way to spend a few Sunday afternoons a year. The next work day is this coming Sunday at 1:30, all are welcome (kids need to bring a parent though)

We had a really good first work day of the year in the orchard. This year we are focussing on the Berry beds, trying to make them very low maintenance. The first task was to move the strawberries to new raised beds so we can strim around the blueberries. If 2 or 3 times a year we strim around the blueberries it means a class can easily do the harvesting. On Sunday we hot halfway through the task. A couple of new people joined the team which was great to see, but we still need more

Just a reminder of the orchard work day this Sunday. While at the orchard last time I spotted a French tree bumblebee sitting on a French marigold, too good not to take a photo

The fruit we picked last Sunday from the orchard was taken to the St Nicholas Primary campus by Ms McElney and happily enjoyed by the Milngavie Primary 3 class and their St Nicholas hosts.

I've put the dates of the orchard work days on the page. Everyone is welcome to join us and it would be great to rebuild the team. Being part of the team that looks after the orchard is a great way to spend a few Sunday afternoons a year.