Golden opportunity for city to benefit environment and wildlife

Publish Date: Thursday March 7, 2024

Dunfermline is one of 50 locations across the UK to be honoured with a Golden Orchard. The planting of the orchard marks five decades of The Tree Council.

The city is one of just three Golden Orchard locations in Fife. The others are Dunnikier Country Park, Kirkcaldy and Balbirnie Park, Glenrothes.

Golden Orchards celebrate 50 years of dedicated work towards a greener and healthier environment through The Tree Council. Every year The Tree Council donates free trees for community planting in Fife. And they support the Fife Tree Warden volunteer network.

Today, pupils from St Leonards Primary School and Dunfermline High School joined Brucefield Tenants and Residents Association at St Leonards fields. They planted ten carefully selected fruit trees, each with the word ‘gold’ in its name. Varieties include Julia’s Late Golden apple, Paradice Gold apple, Apricot Golden Glow, Big Golden Star, and Malus Golden Gem.

Cultivate

Fife’s Golden Orchards are being planted and maintained by local groups, which are supported by Climate Action Fife and Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.

Rebecca Logsdon, Fife Community Tree Planting Officer, says: “Orchards serve as lush, communal spaces. Places where residents come together, not only to plant and care for fruit-bearing trees, but to cultivate lasting community bonds.

“They provide opportunities for education, engagement, teamwork and the joy of enjoying delicious fruits. Orchards also contribute to a sustainable ecosystem. They offer shade, habitat, and a natural haven for local wildlife.”

Kathleen Langner, Secretary of Brucefield Tenants and Residents Association, said: “We are honoured to have been selected to plant a Golden Orchard. It will be a great addition to the park and complement the many other projects we have in the pipeline to make St Leonards park an enjoyable place to spend an afternoon outdoors.”

Why plant a fruit tree?

– Free fruit: enjoy apples, pears, plums and cherries freshly picked from your doorstep

– Fresh and delicious: your own fruit will be tastier, fresher and more nutritious

– Good for the climate: homegrown fruit reduces your carbon footprint and trees store carbon throughout their life

– Good for nature: Trees provide shade and shelter for wildlife

People in Dunfermline and West Fife can get involved in tree planting in various ways: through Climate Action Fife’s A Fruit Tree For Every Garden in Fife campaign, by contributing to the Climate Action Fife Community Tree Fund and through the Fife Tree Warden scheme.