KEY FACTS

• Holding organisation: The London Orchard Project
• Financing: Small contribution from community groups + Funding grants, Corporate donations
• People involved in the project: 4 part-time staff + community groups belonging to the orchards
• Public Partners: Mayor of London, local authorities
• Private partners: Residents’ associations, primary care trusts, transition towns, schools, universities
• Creation Date: 2009
• Contact Persons: Kath Rosen
• Main project links: http://thelondonorchardproject.org/ ; http://twitter.com/londonorchard

The idea

The London Orchard Project, a “fruit tree revolution”, is a fresh initiative promoting orchards and fruit trees in London. We are working with Londoners to plant and harvest apple, pear and plum trees all over the city, which has numerous benefits including promoting a healthy, balanced diet; protection for the environment; and building/strengthening community.

The local context

A report in a recent UK food security assessment made stark forecasts of climate change and the threat to our food security. 'We need a radical rethink of how we produce and consume our food,' Hilary Benn, the environment secretary, has said.

Orchards and associated wildlife have declined considerably: 60 per cent of England's orchards have disappeared since the 1950s, resulting in the loss of fruit varieties and biodiversity according to The National Trust.

Specifically, contrary to what people might think, the city of London is a prime location for the growing of fruit trees, a fact many Londoners are unaware of. The fruit they do buy comes instead from larger supermarkets, which is often imported and is of higher cost.

The percentage of Londoners therefore consuming five or more portions of fruit or vegetables a day is lower among those areas in London classified as more deprived. The London Orchard Project aims to change this by introducing fruit trees in communities across London, particularly in the more deprived areas.

The starting point

The London Orchard Project was founded in January 2009 by Carina Millstone and Rowena Ganguli. The project is the brainchild of Carina Millstone. She thought of the project back in December 2008, after getting involved with the Transition Town movement and delving into permaculture.

Carina and Rowena first met in 2005 while studying for a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development, and quickly discovered a shared passion for trees and food. After graduating, Carina and Rowena spent a couple of years independently nurturing their interest in permaculture, the transition movement, and organic food. They also got involved in various business and consultancy projects, all eventually leading to the initiation of the Orchard Project in London, a concept that did not yet exist there.

How does it work today?

The main idea is planting orchards with enthusiastic communities across the London area. Orchards can be started in schools, prisons, sides of flats, or anywhere there are green spaces. An orchard is classified to be 5 trees or more.

Each community orchard has its own community group, of which 4 or 5 people are designated as the leaders. Those chosen to head the groups receive training from the Project team, who teach them important skills like how to maintain the orchards once they have been planted. These group leaders then share what they have learned with each of their community groups.

In partnership with ten custodians of neglected orchards around London, since 2010 the London Orchard Project has worked to rejuvenate and manage the many orchards in neglect. According to The National Trust, 60% of England's traditional orchards have disappeared since the 1950's as a result of development pressures, conversion of land to other uses and small-scale producers suffering at the hands of the economics of fruit growing.

Fruit trees are well suited to the urban environment as they can be trained or grown on dwarfing rootstocks to fit into small spaces. Once the trees settle in, they require very little maintenance compared to annual vegetables, making them perfect for the busy Londoner!

Participation and Governance

We have a small core staff of four people, who are working part time, and who rely on dozens of volunteers, specialists and partner organisations to make it all happen.

At present there are about 63 community orchards in London. The groups in charge of and taking care of these orchards vary in size, from 5 to 60 persons who are of all ages and different ethnicities, backgrounds.

In terms of funding, each community group contributes a small amount to the project. The rest is provided by funding grants, corporate donations, fundraising activities.

Added value of the project and making resources available

The London Orchard Project has been such a success among the London population because of the many benefits it can bring to a community: it is a means to eat healthier, giving access to cheaper and fresher fruit; it is a team activity that can bring a community together and provides a social outlet for those perhaps living in isolation; an orchard is a long term project and must be maintained and cared for, thus creating an environment that is community-oriented, conscientious; it promotes a safe, clean environment.

The fruit that the trees bear is used in numerous ways: for consumption, distribution, production of cider and apple juice, for social enterprises in need of the fruit for whatever purpose.

Challenges

The main challenges mostly relate to:

1. Sourcing sufficient funding for present and future projects. 2. Demand for orchards by communities exceeds what the Project team is able to supply, which means that they must often turn down peoples’ request for support to plant an orchard. 3. Because orchards need constant care and management, it is essential that communities take on the responsibility to keep their orchard alive and flourishing. This can prove difficult however in areas where people do not or cannot remain for so long.

Future perspectives

The London Orchard Project has aspirations to expand its work outside of the London area. For now however, the team is concentrating its efforts on the space it is currently using in order to get the best results that it can from the project.

Plans to create a cider cooperative.

Sources and links

Guide to London Orchard Maps

Click here to read a series of technical documents covering traditional orchard management, developed by Chris Wedge, orchard specialist at Natural England and occasional expert for The London Orchard Project.

The notes are aimed at anyone who owns, manages or is simply interested in traditional orchards. They are available to download (free of charge) from the Natural England online publications catalogue.