A few years ago I did a project on the remnant orchards of the Carse of Gowrie. A small selection of the images can be viewed HERE While still hoping I might get around to finding a publisher I've meanwhile been printing out as many images as possible, so at least they might end up in an archive in the future.

While driving past one of my favourite orchards at Wester Ballindean a few weeks past I notice work was being carried out and I had an initial thought that it was being grubbed up for housing. The owner I knew had many years ago sought planning but was refused and he subsequently left the orchard to go its own way, becoming a jungle of brambles and dense undergrowth, it was nearly impossible to access or walk around. My second thought, if that was the case the trees would have been cut down and not just the brambles, phew! Later I made enquiries and it has turned out that the local community had purchased it. Creating a comprehensive project plan they managed over five years to secure funding and initiated compulsory purchase, as the owner was not willing to sell.

In no short time the 'Wester Ballindean Community Heritage Orchard' group have cleared the brambles, erected a deer fence to mainly keep out the local sheep who had free range previously causing much damage and have had a pond dug amongst quite a few other improvements. Once done there will be a path snaking through the orchard and replacement heritage apples trees planted. The whole of the orchards biodiversity will be enhanced and monitored.

I've taken on the task to photograph it over a year as I thought it a really positive development and a fitting end to my orchard work and general interest in the old remnant orchards.

The timing to has been excellent with the damson and pear (pictured) blossom exceedingly lovely this year, a sound start. Apple blossom just following on from the pear. With such a good sunny and warm(ish) start it will be interesting to see if the fruit are as abundant. To see the orchard change and made accessible will be lovely also, the chance for flowers to emerge that previously were smothered by the brambles, it will still take many years but all credit to the community for their interest and dedication to see the project through.

The group have a facebook page.