Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, Murdo Fraser, presented the 2018 Wee Apple Award to members of the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Orchard working group last Friday.
The award was part of the 11th Holyrood Apple Day which celebrates the Scottish National collection of apples and other orchard produce across Scotland.
The founder of this event, John Hancox, was also founder of the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Orchard in 2008. This orchard has just celebrated 10 years of fruitfulness at its annual Big Apple Day in September. John Hancox and other founder members were presented with bespoke mementos to commemorate the day.
To commemorate this 10th Anniversary milestone, the orchard will be mounting an exhibition of photos at the Birnam Arts during the month of October.
Commenting, Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“It was great to visit the orchard and learn more about what the volunteers do whilst presenting them with the “Wee Apple Award”.
“Experts have warned that nearly 90% of our orchards have been lost since the 1850s which makes the continued survival and growth of the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Orchard so important.
“I have been a longstanding supporter of Holyrood apple day which started in 2008 and believe it’s important that MSPs promote fresh Scottish produce.
“The Dunkeld and Birnam Community orchard is now ten years old and I hope its next decade is just as fruitful.”
Katherine Melville speaking on behalf of the group said:
“This is a big orchard with 180 trees, so it’s a big responsibility looking after it,”
“We love working and relaxing here, but it is nice to know that our efforts are appreciated.”
“Everyone is welcome to pick the fruit free down here,” she adds, “but at the moment we are harvesting every Friday and putting apples in the boxes by the fence for passers by to help themselves.”