Fruit for the future at Barcroft Community Centre | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Fruit for the future at Barcroft Community Centre

Volunteers from NIE Networks and The Conservation Volunteers pulled on their wellies recently to help Barcroft Community Centre plant an orchard in the centre’s grounds.

Christine Kelly from NIE Networks (centre left) joins the Conservation Volunteers and Barcroft Community Centre to plant a community orchard in the centre’s grounds

Christine Kelly from NIE Networks (centre left) joins the Conservation Volunteers and Barcroft Community Centre to plant a community orchard in the centre’s grounds

Representatives from the Community Centre, the Conservation Volunteers and Christine Kelly Customer Relations Manager, NIE Networks, planted apple, plum and cherry trees, which will produce a good crop of fruit in the years to come.

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) organised the planting as part of an ongoing scheme, sponsored by NIE Networks, which will enable the planting of five community orchards at five sites across Northern Ireland.

Barbara Boardman, Director of TCV said, “This is a great way to involve local pupils in improving the school environment and we are delighted to be once again working with NIE Networks.

She added, “We believe that involving local people in these projects not only promotes sustainability, but also encourages a greater awareness of how our health and well being is enhanced by taking part in conservation activities.”

Alastair Usher, NIE Networks Environment Officer, says he is pleased the company is involved in helping stimulate new tree growth. “Supporting community projects has always been part of NIE Networks’ ethos, and planting fruit trees will help local people understand the need for sustainability.

“We want to encourage them to make the most of the natural resources we have around us and we’re keen to promote local biodiversity.”

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NT ads gif newHe added, “We also welcome the involvement of young people in these planting projects, as they will be able to see the fruit trees growing and producing a healthy harvest into the future. Hopefully this will encourage them to learn more about things we sometimes take for granted, the electricity we use and the environment around us.”

The community orchard project continues the longstanding partnership between NIE Networks and TCV and plantings of further orchards as well as localised woodlands will take place at other sites across Northern Ireland in March and again later on in the year.

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Posted by on Mar 24 2016. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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