Get pollinating with fruit and nut trees

Propagate is leading on an exciting project for Dalry Community Council that will see around 130 fruit and nut trees planted in people’s gardens and community spaces all across the Glenkens.

Scottish Power Energy Networks have provided this funding to create a network of pollinators across the area, boosting biodiversity and habitats through extra planting. You can read about the link of this project with the Glenkens Nature Networks project and our future plans (article below), but it’s got off to a great start. We took part in this year’s Land Notes Festival parade, working with local creative Sarah McCusker to make a banner and various parade props during a session held in Dalry Library. Following this, Malcolm from SWSEIC led a Pollinator ID workshop in New Galloway Community Garden.

This was attended by 12 people who learned all about the diverse range of these tiny but mighty garden friends. An information session was then held online on 9 September for those looking to take some trees to plant. We welcomed NatureScot's Pollinator Strategy Manager, who shared an insightful presentation on the national context for pollinators. Also present was Lynsey Payne, who co-runs Appletreeman in Perthshire – the source of the fruit and nut trees for our project. Lynsey gave a visual tour of the nursery and how she produces the trees.

This is a fantastic project that is making a real difference on the ground in the Glenkens, and we look forward to seeing it develop over the coming months and years. Find out more at: Glenkens Pollinators Project

Abi Mordin, Propagate