If you live in the Snowdonia National Park, are you interested in establishing an orchard on your land, or extending an orchard you may already have?
The Snowdonia National Park Authority, in partnership with CALU (Centre for Alternative Land Use, Bangor University) is eager to hear from National Park residents who are interested in extending existing orchards or planting new orchard trees.
The main aim of the project is to establish a register of those interested in the scheme and to offer them help by providing information on cultivating and managing mature trees and offering them assistance in planting and establishing native trees as well as improving traditional boundaries. It is hoped that this scheme will appeal to a wide range of individuals and groups, including farmers, schools, societies and community groups.
Rhys Owen, Head of Agriculture and Conservation with Snowdonia National Park Authority, said;
“By encouraging more people to plant trees, we can gradually increase the number native orchards within the National Park, and also educate people about how to manage their orchards. With the co-operation of CALU, training courses will be available in the hope that we can see a number of trees planted as soon as the next winter months”.
On behalf of CALU, Kerrin Buckler said,
“We know from our workshops that there is a great interest in orchards, and particularly in the use of traditional varieties of trees which are well suited to the environment of North Wales, so we think it is excellent to see the National Park supporting orchards in this way.”
For those who are interested in the scheme, or require further information, please contact the Agriculture and Conservation Team at the National Park Office (01766 770274)