School Orchards
Eco Drama, in collaboration with ‘The Appletreeman’ Andrew Lear, provides schools with the engagement, support and training required to plant and maintain a school orchard.
This activity compliments our theatre production The Forgotten Orchard, joining up inspiration and engagement with practical action.
“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
Orchards
Planted to Date
43
Fruit Trees
Planted to Date
192
Current Project
During 2023-25, part of our wider Glasgow Communities and Place Fund project, Eco Drama will collaborate with 20 Primary Schools across Glasgow City to plant 20 school orchards.
The Forgotten Orchard theatre production and its associated resources will tour to 20 schools who would like support to develop their school grounds.
The production will engage children with Scotland’s orchard heritage through an uplifting story, performed by professional actors and showcasing a fruity set designed by Claire Halleran.
Teachers will be supported with a Classroom Activity Pack to deepen pupils engagement with the show’s themes, plus a National Apple Day Starter Pack, courtesy of Gartmore Primary School in Stirling, with tips and suggestions for hosting the planting day and ideas on how to celebrate National Apple Day.
Teachers will be invited to attend an Orchard Planting & Skills Workshop, equipping participants with the knowledge and basic skills necessary to plant and maintain their school orchard.
Schools will receive 5 apple trees free of charge to get their orchard started. All Scottish heritage varieties such as the Bloody Ploughman, Scotch Dumpling, James Grieve and Katy, which link to The Forgotten Orchard theatre production.
Gallery
Swipe or scroll across for more images. Click to enlarge.
Contact
For further information about our current School Orchards project or to get involved, please contact Schools Project Manager Suzanne Prak-Sandilands –
suzanne@ecodrama.co.uk or call 0141 552 9920
Project History
Climate Challenge Fund project 2016-17
Renfrewshire Primary Schools
10 School Orchards planted
Climate Challenge Fund project 2012-15
Glasgow Primary Schools
32 School Orchards planted
+1 Community Orchard planted in Townhead, 2013
Feedback
“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
“Very informative. Ready to go out planting and caring for our trees.”
Teacher, Renfrewshire
“Brilliant session, very practical. Andrew was great, super knowledge and very inspiring!”
Simon Cundy, AHT Langbank Primary School
“I enjoyed all aspects 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 our school orchard.”
“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 didn’t know I would find the process of growing apple trees so interesting! Thank you.”
Morna Mitchell, Arkleston Primary School
