Buckie community orchard set for fruitful future
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AN orchard in the heart of Buckie has been unveiled.
The Rose Garden site at Queen Street has been transformed into a community orchard which will not only provide free fruit but also learning opportunities for schools and other groups, as well as simply being a restful place to spend some time.
Making the project possible has been £20,000 sum from developer contributions secured by Moray Council from Tesco to mitigate the environmental impact of their store in the town, which opened for the first time in November 2010.
The ball was set rolling on the community orchard project in 2019 and a community planting sessions was due to get under way in March 2020 only to be stopped in its tracks by the Covid pandemic.
However, it has all been worth the wait as the finished orchard was formally unveiled last Saturday.
Chair of Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee, Councillor Donald Gatt, said that the investment in Buckie as a result of the developer obligations has provided a fantastic boost to the local community.
“When a development takes place there is need for infrastructure and facilities to accompany it. Developer obligations allow us to secure funding to improve local infrastructure at no cost to the council. The funding secured from the Tesco store in Buckie has enabled improvement to public transport and traffic flow, and investment in much-loved community events.
“I’d like to thank residents for sharing their ideas which helped shape the various regeneration and improvement initiatives that have been undertaken. Your input has ensured that the funds have been spent to further improve community life and wellbeing in Buckie for years to come.”
Buckie councillors Sonya Warren and Neil McLennan warmly welcomed the latest addition to Buckie's community green spaces.
Councillor Warren said: "I'm delighted to see the project reach this stage, it's a great green open space that's lovely for the community to use.
"It was one of the community wish lists at consultation events.
"It's wonderful to see what had been left of the old rose garden transformed into such a lovely area, that's going to provide fruit for folk to use in the future.
"I was also delighted to see the Guides bench restored, especially in the Jubilee Year.
"Many people have been involved in this project and they deserve a huge thank you. There's been a huge amount of work and research gone into creating the orchard, from the design and selecting the types of fruit trees, to the information panels, along with the installation and planting.
"One thing Covid restrictions taught us was the need for good quality, accessible open spaces for the community to use. I hope that folk enjoy utilising this space, and eventually getting apples here, too.
"There is an information board explaining all the types of trees, while another one explains the story of the of the area."
Councillor McLennan said it was original ideas such as the orchard which helped "communities thrive".
“It is great to see this come to fruition," he continued.
"I have heard much about this work since taking up post and indeed had a meeting last week where it will be mentioned again. I hope those organising are happy with the outcome and that many get great pleasure from it.
"Well done to all involved. Communities thrive on great ideas and people willing to ensure they come into bloom! Super to see this success!”
It was a special moment for Buckie Girl Guides, who proudly witnessed the formal unveiling of a very special bench.
Moray Guiding Development Advisor Janet McDonald explained: "There is a bench in the garden which was originally donated by Buckie Girl Guides in 1953 to the then Town Council to mark the Queen's coronation.
"I was contacted by Rebecca Morrison, Moray Council's Infrastructure Growth/Obligations Officer, who was working on the project to create the community garden asking if we would like them to refurbish and paint the bench for us.
"We had been thinking about getting it painted for a while but to be honest didn’t know really where to start so we were very grateful to have the bench included in the project."
Moray Council’s Criminal Justice Team undertook the repainting work on the bench. Completion of the project comes after public consultation on the draft design and a drop-in session which drew supportive comments from local residents.
MBLA Design Ltd was appointed to produce a plan for the orchard which considers the history of the local site. The trees were planted during the first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020 by Moray Council’s Criminal Justice team who have been maintaining the site since. The remainder of the project was put on hold due to the pandemic with the remaining works scheduled to be complete by the end of June 2022.
In April this year, a contractor was appointed to instal a path for the orchard and works were complete by May. Wildflower planting along the edge of the orchard, where the climbing roses once stood, has also taken place. The orchard also includes a circular bench for the central tree and an interpretation panel to help educate and inform visitors about the environment around them.
The orchard has been planted in the former rose garden which had fallen into disrepair. The rose garden, originally planted in 1991, was completed in 1993 with the installation of a sculptured bird bath worked on by Buckie Community High School pupils.
