The Orchard Project continues to grow

The second week of the project has just taken place and we were visited by reporters from BBC Radio Wales. Listen to the report on the Roy Noble show on Monday 14th June around three o'clock.

Getting children to think about and appreciate local orchards is a key part of helping to protect and restore old orchards. One of the best ways of doing this is by working with schools. It was proposed that each primary school would have a preliminary visit from an orchard consultant. This visit will foster an understanding of why local orchards and local fruit varieties are important. In addition to the above, the Forest Schools leader will provide information regarding healthy eating and sustainable living.

Additionally, the children will experience a number of hands on activities ranging from fruit pressing and juice production to grafting and the planting of a school orchard.

The project in 3 phases:

March 22nd 2010: Investigate local produce and the importance of healthy eating along with the implications of importing fruit and the use of herbicides and pesticides. Grafted rootstock will be planted out within the school grounds (or any suitable/designated place) and adopted as the school orchard. Children set task to name apple trees.
May 24th 2010: Names of trees confirmed. Old apple varieties will be grafted onto suitable rootstock and maintained in pots. Tree care.
October 18th 2010: The children will get the opportunity to press fruit, learn about the utilisation of fruit, and make a variety of apple products.

Project Outcomes:

1. The project will enhance the local environment and create a new wildlife habitat.
2. The project will help change the child’s attitude towards fruit and get them to eat more healthily.
3. The school will have the ability to sustainably produce a proportion of wholesome food.
4. The project will help local people to take ownership of where they live. Getting children involved in planting trees will bring together and build community cohesion and pride.
5. An orchard will provide the school with a place to develop and inspire children.

YMGYRCH PERLLAN
Mae ysgogi plant i feddwl am berllannau lleol a’u gwerthfawrogi yn rhan allweddol o’r gwaith o amddiffyn ac adnewyddu hen berllannau. Un ffordd o wneud hyn ydy drwy weithio efo ysgolion.

Fel rhan o hyn mae ymgynghorydd perllannau yn ymweld â phob ysgol gynradd gyda’r bwriad o feithrin dealltwriaeth o bwysigrwydd perllannau a mathau lleol o ffrwythau. Yn ychwanegol at hyn, bydd arweinydd Ysgol y Goedwig yn rhoi gwybodaeth am fwyta’n iach a ffordd o fyw cynaliadwy.
Yn ogystal, bydd y plant yn profi nifer o weithgareddau ymarferol yn amrywio o wasgu ffrwythau a chynhyrchu sudd i impio a phlannu perllan ar gyfer yr ysgol.

Mae 3 cham i’r prosiect:
• Mawrth 22ain 2010 – archwilio cynnyrch lleol a phwysigrwydd bwyta’n iach ynghyd ag edrych ar oblygiadau mewnforio ffrwythau a’r defnydd o chwynladdwyr a phlaladdwyr. Bydd coed afalau’n cael eu plannu ar dir yr ysgol (neu unrhyw fan addas/dynodedig arall) a bydd y fan honno’n cael ei mabwysiadu fel perllan yr ysgol. Bydd plant yn cael y dasg o enwi’r coed afalau.
• Mai 24ain 2010 – enwau’r coed yn cael eu cadarnhau. Bydd hen amrywiadau o afalau’n cael eu himpio ar wreiddgyffion addas a’u cadw mewn potiau. Dysgu sut i ofalu am goed afalau.
• Hydref 18fed 2010 - bydd y plant yn cael cyfle i wasgu ffrwythau, yn dysgu sut i ddefnyddio ffrwythau a sut i wneud amrywiaeth o gynnyrch afalau.
Canlyniadau’r Prosiect
1. Bydd y prosiect yn ychwanegu at yr amgylchedd lleol ac yn creu cynefinoedd newydd ar gyfer bywyd gwyllt.
2. Bydd y prosiect yn helpu i newid agweddau plant tuag at ffrwythau ac yn eu hannog i fwyta’n iachach.
3. Bydd yr ysgol yn gallu cynhyrchu cyfran o fwyd iachus mewn modd cynaliadwy.
4. Bydd y prosiect yn helpu pobl leol i gymryd perchnogaeth o ble maent yn byw. Bydd cynnwys plant mewn plannu coed yn dod a’r gymuned at ei gilydd ac yn meithrin cydlyniad a pharch cymunedol.
5. Gall yr ysgol wneud defnydd o’r berllan i ysgogi a datblygu’r disgyblion.