Pioneer project volunteers plant three small orchards

Arran Pioneer Project Community Interest Company planted fruit and nut trees and fruit bushes around Arran last weekend.

Volunteers of all ages were given a demonstration of how to plant apple, pear, plum, cherry, walnut and damson trees, along with gooseberry, raspberry, elderberry and blackcurrant bushes.

The planting took place in Lochranza, Lamlash and Kilpatrick.

Types of tree likely to do well on Arran, not only bearing fruit but resisting wet and windy weather here, were selected.

Development of these small orchards are part of the social enterprise’s long term vision to turn unused land on Arran over to food production.

Since starting in March 2020, volunteers from the project have worked on sites in five separate villages and there are plans to develop additional spaces in the coming year.

Director Simon Ross-Gill said: ‘We all enjoyed a terrific weekend planting trees. It was personally very rewarding to see so many people involved from different age groups. ‘We believe Arran can grow much more of its own fruit, and we hope to plant plenty more fruit trees and bushes around the island in the future.’

The trees were bought using funding from the National Lottery Communities Fund, Lamlash Co-op and from a GofundMe crowdfunder.

A further 16 apple trees, donated by Arran Distillers Ltd, will be planted later in March.

If anyone would like to find out more about the project and how to get involved, please visit pioneerproject.scot and check out their crowdfunder on https://www.gofundme.com/f/ the-arran-pioneer-project-cic

Volunteers prepare the ground to plant fruit trees at Cordon, Lamlash.

Above: Rachel and Emily planting a plum tree in Cordon, Lamlash. Left: Poppy and Flora Murdoch planting an apple tree in Lochranza.

Sammy Soffa admires his pear tree in Lochranza.

Ed O’Donnelly planting a walnut tree in Lochranza.