Pollok Grows Together

During 2024-25, Eco Drama collaborated with community members and organisations in Pollok, Glasgow, to plant a Community Orchard in the grounds of Pollok Community Centre.

Project Summary

During 2024-25, supported in part by the Glasgow Communities and Place fund, we collaborated with community members of all ages in Pollok, plus orchard specialists, to design and plant Pollok’s first community orchard. We also supported the planting of 21 School Orchards across Glasgow, and 10 fruit trees in local gardens. Eco Drama led on the creative engagement, engaging children and their communities through our unique arts-based approach. Since then, we have nurtured and grown a core group of committed Orchard Volunteers that tend and care for the trees, and support the delivery of creative community engagement events.

Creative Engagement

Eco Drama’s production The Forgotten Orchard toured to schools and community audiences in 2024 to engage, inspire and support the planting of the orchards.

Drama Artist’s led creative workshops in spring and autumn 2024, working with local children to create informal performances inspired by Scotland’s rich orchard heritage, which were showcased at a Harvest Festival event for their families and wider community. We continued delivering a range of creative community events in 2025-2026 including a Summer Picnic, Harvest Festival, Wassailing Event & Blossom Festival.

Community Involvement

22 heritage apple, pear and plum trees were planted in Pollok Community Orchard, plus 10 fruit trees were gifted to Pollok residents to plant in their gardens. The current programme of events centred around the Orchard from 2024 – 2027, has been shaped with the community. Aswell as creative events, we’ve hosted an Orchard Planting Workshop & Pruning & Aftercare Workshop, led by experienced horticulturists The Appletreeman, and plan to host another session in January 2027. We currently host monthly Orchard Volunteer meet-ups, to tend and care for the trees and support the delivery of community events. All welcome.

Get Involved

Our next Pollok Community Orchard Event is a blossom celebration event at the Pollok Kite Festival happening on Sunday 24th May 2026 from 1pm – 4pm on the hill opposite the Pollok Community Centre on Langton Road, G53 5DP. The Festival is free and welcome to all ages! There will be fun for the whole family with face-painting, arts & crafts, free food, storytelling and more! It will also be an opportunity to meet some of the other orchard volunteers, and find out about the events and activities planned for 2026-27.

To get involved as a volunteer, please contact Suzanne Prak-Sandilands, Communities Project Manager: suzanne@ecodrama.co.uk.

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The Story of
Pollok Community Orchard

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