Carse of Gowrie Group - Historic Orchards Forum
The Carse of Gowrie, with its high sunshine averages, was an important area for "top-fruit" (apples, pears, plums) for some 800 years. From the medieval monastery orchards in the 12 century and the revival of interest in such fruit during the Victorian era, it was only in the twentieth century that soft fruit became more dominant in the Carse. Recognising the importance that orchards have for biodiversity the Historic Orchards Forum works within the Carse of Gowrie to encourage the safeguarding and maintenance of the old traditional orchards, together with the creation of new orchards and fruit tree plantings, plus the appreciation and revived use of the orchard habitats and their fruit.
If you are interested then please contact:
A leaflet giving further information and advice on the wildlife and management of the orchards can be downloaded by clicking on this link to: Tayside Biodiversity
Projects:
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Identifying the varieties of existing old trees in the Carse and mapping their location.
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Helping land-owners restore the old orchards.
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Creation of grafted local, older varieties for use by the project and for sale.
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Genetic testing of samples from unusual trees within the Carse with a view to identifying local varieties and if possible, safeguarding their genetics.
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Community apple-pressing events.
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Assisting schools in the creation, future management - and enjoyment of school orchards.
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Enjoying the orchards themselves via Orchard Festivals and seasonal events
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Offering an annual training programme so that local people and visitors alike can safeguard and enjoy their trees (e.g. pruning, variety identification, cider-making).
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Encouraging local entrepreneurs to explore how best to use the fruit to 'add value' to the orchards