The Orchard Summit, Edinburgh 2018

Has your community orchard / growing space got an idea for an event in 2018?
Does your community orchard need a small amount of money to maintain it?

NEWS: Pot increased to £3,200!

The Orchard Project’s Helping Britain Blossom project is running a simple and fun way for you to get the funds you need to help you to run an amazing community event (eg Apple Day) and to keep your orchard looking beautiful & fruitful.

All you need to do is answer a few simple questions to be in the running to receive funding which will be decided through a public vote. At least one person in your community must be available to attend Orchard Summit – Edinburgh on Friday 20th July to pitch your proposal to people from other local community orchards.

You might not think that your community growing space is an "orchard", but if it has 5 or more fruit trees, we think you have an orchard!

If you don't have a community orchard, but interested in creating one, find out here how you get a start up kit worth £150.

Checklist
[_] I’m part of a community group that has or wants to create an edible growing space containing at least with 5 or more fruit or nut trees in a location that generally has open public access.
[_] Someone from your group can attend Orchard Summit – Edinburgh  on Fri 20th July at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.

[_]  Our group wants to run an orchard event in 2018.
or
[_] Our group needs a small amount of money to maintain our existing community orchard.

If you meet the above check list, then you can apply for up to £400 by clicking on the green 'NEXT' button below and completing the simple form. Preview the 8 questions before diving in.

Timeline
Wed 11th July: Early deadline for proposals, submit answers to the 8 questions. Free book on orchards for all entries by the end of June.
Wed 18th July: Final deadline for proposals.
Fri 20 July: Orchard Summit – Edinburgh with 4 minute pitches from each group. Those attending from other orchard projects get to vote on which proposals get funded, please note people are asked not to vote for their own community group!
In the afternoon there will also be a programme of useful workshops about how to make the most of your community food growing space.
August – December 2018: Successful projects use the funds to run an event or improve their orchard.

Tips and hints
Remember it is representatives from other orchard projects that are going to vote on which proposals are funded. Your proposal is more likely to score well if you can show:
•    it's good value for money and reasonably costed.
•    you're putting in some of your own time or even funds.

To start the application click on the big green NEXT button at the bottom of this page.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much is available?
There is a total pot of £3,200, with a maximum of £400 available for each proposal.

What counts as a community orchard?
Community space with at least 5 or more fruit or nut trees in a location that generally has open public access.

Have you got any ideas for comunity events?
Apple Day in October is annual institution. Here's lots ideas on the The Orchard Project website and from the thousands of events in the last decade. Blossom picnics are also increasingly popular. 

How could we improve our community orchard?
Some things you might consider useful: H2Go water carrier & wheel barrow; woodchip delivery; replace a damaged tree; replacement rotten or broken stakes; adding fruit bushes; scythe for vegetation management; pruning secateurs and saws; tripod ladder for picking; telescopic fruit picker; bug hotel materials; bird boxes and bath; comfrey roots; durable noticeboard/sign; tree tags; bench; picnic blankets; hiring the Abundance Edinburgh’s juicing kit or Common Good Food's bike smoothie machine; refreshments for work session volunteers; path materials; and more. 

Why are you using this method?
This Orchard Summit - Edinburgh event is using an approach used all over the world called participatory budgeting. It is based on trusting communities or those with a stake to make good decisions about investments to make things better. Participatory Budgeting is a simple, un-bureaucratic and empowering way to distribute small sums.

We want to plant a new community orchard.
The Orchard Summit – Edinburgh event does include an opportunity for community groups to pitch for an orchard starter pack of 5 fruit trees (and all the guards, posts, ties, mulch, etc needed). Full details here.

What is Helping Britain Blossom?
Helping Britain Blossom is a partnership between Heineken UK and The Orchard Project, and is creating and restoring over 100 community orchards across Britain. Is it possible that every town and city has a community orchard within walking distance?

Disclaimer
The decisions made during the process are final. The Orchard Project have no influence in the decision making process and is not a funding body. The autonomy lies within the process and the members that take part in the process. The Orchard Project is a neutral body within this process and will not be involved in resolving disputes between members.