Here is our draft workplan.
Skerries Open Orchards Project Work Plan Version 1.0 of 12 October 2021
Based on the first project meeting on 11 October 2021, attended by:
Emma Oldroyd, Tedy Otto, Dominica McKevitt, Janet Martin, Hans Zomer, Charles Heasman, Marion Heasman, Louise Ring, Sabine McKenna (Notes, Champion)
Draft Work Plan:
Phase 1: Preparation and planning:
1A. Agree on first orchard location. Completed pending site visit
The first orchard will probably be established in the area to the North of the foot / cycle path traversing the green on Kelly’s Bay Promenade (see map)
Site visits on Sun 17 Oct, 11 am and Mon 18 Oct, 5.30 pm.
All invited to attend!
1B. Contact local residents: KB Strand, Promenade. To be started (SMcK). Invite to site visits. Ask to join SkOOP
1C. Get OK and support from Fingal County Council (FCC) Started (SMcK). Follow up with FCC, Mick Hackett
1D. Find Tree Guardians / Stewards for first orchard. To be started after site visits
Phase 2. Creating our first open orchard
2A. Agree and purchase plants
2B. Agree and purchase signage.
2C. Training for Tree Guardians / Stewards
For 2A, 2B, 2C: Learn from team members and Kilkenny, Cloughjordan
Note: What the Tree Guardians / Stewards need to do should be documented, possibly as a web page on sustainableskerries.com
Training could possibly take place in the allotments or in Ardgillan? Would Dominica, Charlie, Marion or others be happy to run this?
2D. Planting day. Note: Needs Insurance Cover.
Possibly arrange for other activities in case there are more people than needed: Bulb planting, plant your own (whatever plant would be good to bring home)...
Phase 3. Continued care & harvesting
3A. Care by Tree Guardians / Stewards: Watering, weeding. Checking stakes.Checking signage.
3B. Harvesting. Possibly having a “harvest day” (or more than one if the fruit ripens at different times?)
Phase 4. Publicity and starting the next orchard(s)
4A. Reporting on the project. Good for raising public awareness and getting more people on board.Necessary for ChangeX (to draw down the second sum of money) ChangeX:On the project page. Sustainable Skerries:Website, Facebook page,Instagram account. Other: Skerries News, Fingal Independent
4B. Starting the next orchard. Asking all residents’ groups on the Skerries Neighbourhoods Network to suggest the next area.
Location of the first open orchard:
The proposed area for our first open orchard is the strip to the North of what is here called “Kelly’s Bay Cycle Path,” roughly coloured in darker green in the second map..
Meeting point for our site visits Sun 17 Oct, 11 am, and Mon 18 Oct, 5.30 pm: Pedestrian Gate near Bus Stop, Harrison's Bay Road.
Covid Plan:
All meetings for now will be either online or outdoors, observing social distancing.
Long version of the work plan:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1umiknMni-IFk1iFW2OfG61uVNflRYt2p7CvSR2ihtG0/edit?usp=sharing
Join us either on Sunday 17 October, 11 am or Monday 18 October, 5.30 pm,
to have a look at what we hope might be the location for our first site visit!
Meet at the entrance to the small path at Harrison Cove Road at the Kelly's Bay Promenade green.
Hi all, it'd be great to have a quick meeting on Monday evening to get the orchard rolling in time for the planting season (though that might be hoping for a lot! Still, we can try!)
See Events for details, the zoom link will be shared tomorrow or Monday morning.
Really looking forward to this! 🌻 Sabine
Here's a photo of our embryonic orchard last Spring. Janet
Hi there, I thought you would like to know we have planted an orchard (definition at least 5 trees) at the Rockabill Apartments, Holmpatrick. We started last autumn with 11 trees, a mix of free standing apples, pears and plums and three espalier apples. We even got apples this year, at least enough for an apple pie! It's a start. Janet
