Orchard Workshop CPD Sessions
Eco Drama, in collaboration with ‘The Appletreeman’ Andrew Lear, provide schools with the support and training required to plant & maintain a school orchard. This activity compliments our theatre production The Forgotten Orchard, joining up inspiration and engagement with practical action.
Throughout 2012-15 we collaborated with primary schools in Glasgow to plant 32 school orchards across the city, plus a Community Orchard in Townhead. During 2016-17 we planted another 10 orchards in Renfrewshire Primary Schools, bringing the total count to a fruity 43 orchards planted with 192 Scottish heritage apple trees; varieties such as the Bloody Ploughman, Scotch Dumpling, James Grieve and Katy.
As part of the project, gratefully supported by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund, we were able to provide teachers with the training required to successfully plant and maintain their school orchard, 3-5 Scottish heritage apple trees to get started, tips and suggestions for hosting their planting day, classroom activities to engage with the orchard, and ideas on how to celebrate National Apple Day. We also provide ongoing support and advice to ensure the sustainability of the orchards.
Reviews
Previous Participants on the Orchard Training…
“Thanks for the excellent opportunity to begin an orchard in our school. It is a fantastic idea and a great chance for inner city kids to experience something new! Teacher, St Patrick’s Primary, Glasgow
“We got a couple of very red Bloody Ploughman apples this year… we have a little collection of fruit trees now. We use the orchard for learning activities too, environmental education as well as maths and cooking. ” L McCann Anderston Primary
“I enjoyed all aspect of this course, from learning about general apple growing history to how to plant our trees and get the children involved. I thought this was an excellent training day! It left me feeling enthusiastic and prepared for planning and planting out school orchard.”
“The Antonine Eco Group really enjoyed it and we had a helping hand from our janitor and from some parents and carers. The Eco pupils learned very quickly how to plant the trees and were doing it by themselves after the first tree. We enjoyed eating apples during the ceremony and toasted the health and future of the trees with apple juice then parents and visitors came inside for tea and apple pies.” Sarah Sinclair, Teacher at Antonine Primary
“I enjoyed the CPD session. I am our school’s Eco Coordinator and plan to start an orchard on the site of a janitor’s house. I now feel quite confident about planting and caring for the trees. Andrew is so knowledgeable and I didn’t know I would find the process of growing apple trees so interesting! Thank you.” Morna Mitchell, Arkleston Primary School
“Very informative. Ready to go out planting and caring for our trees.” Teacher, Renfrewshire
“Brilliant session, very practical, Andrew was great, super knowledge, inspiring!” Simon Cundy, AHT Langbank Primary School