Portobello Community Orchard

Portobello Community Orchard Portobello Community Orchard was set up by PEDAL to create a local food growing resource and showcase interesting, lesser known varieties of apples, etc.

It was a mainly sunny day with a few drops of rain later at the orchard on Saturday.The growth is very lush, which is no...
02/06/2026

It was a mainly sunny day with a few drops of rain later at the orchard on Saturday.

The growth is very lush, which is not surprising given the heat. The blossom is gone but the cow parsley is looking lovely. There are also wildflowers such as red campion and speedwell blooming.

We were on the search for bindw**d and found it but not in such abundance as last year - so far! Maybe we can keep it under control, if not eradicate it, by being vigilant. There was plenty of sticky willie around though. We cleared and w**ded around the trees as usual and watered some of the younger ones. Some work was done on the willow circle/dome.

We continued pruning the fig tree and a few of us took the prunings away to try and root them to create new trees. Some of us are using different methods from others so we will be comparing notes - no pressure!

We also continued cutting back the ivy that has been creeping along the gate at the top of the site.

Workday at the orchard. Lovely warm morning. Great that visitors to the orchard are picking up litter more and the bin...
30/05/2026

Workday at the orchard. Lovely warm morning. Great that visitors to the orchard are picking up litter more and the bind w**d has reduced so we are smiling, This toy cow has been at the orchard in the hut since last December but has been moving around. Sue is going to hide now . Come and look and see if you can spot her.

It's our next orchard work day this Saturday, 30 May, from 10 am to 1 pm.We'll be tackling the w**ds, especially bindw**...
25/05/2026

It's our next orchard work day this Saturday, 30 May, from 10 am to 1 pm.

We'll be tackling the w**ds, especially bindw**d, which will be shooting up in this weather, checking and clearing around the trees and enjoying the space.

There will be a break for refreshments and a chat as usual.

Please bring gloves and hand tools if you have them.

The Donkeyfield Community Orchard looked beautiful with blossom and sunshine last Saturday. The next session is on Satur...
02/05/2026

The Donkeyfield Community Orchard looked beautiful with blossom and sunshine last Saturday. The next session is on Saturday 30th May 10.00 till 1.00

Donkeyfield Community Orchard looked beautiful last Saturday with blossom and sunshine. The next session is on 30th May ...
02/05/2026

Donkeyfield Community Orchard looked beautiful last Saturday with blossom and sunshine. The next session is on 30th May 10.00 till 1.00

We started the morning off in haar and ended in glorious sunshine last Saturday at the orchard. There is blossom out and...
28/04/2026

We started the morning off in haar and ended in glorious sunshine last Saturday at the orchard. There is blossom out and plenty more to come over the next few weeks so plenty of time to come up and admire it. It really is an uplifting sight.

There was a great turnout so we got a lot done. We w**ded around the smaller trees to reduce competition for nutrients, we cut off and dug up suckers coming from the base of some of the trees and staked up a couple that were lying almost horizontally. A couple of the recently planted trees at the wall were watered to help them establish. Some work done to the willow dome.

The fence at the top was almost completely engulfed in ivy so this was cut back almost to the end but then had to be left as it looks as though there is a nest in there. The top bar of the fence is broken so will need replaced in due course.

The w**ds are taking off and we pulled up a lot of green alkanet, and cut back some of the more wayward brambles, including some that were taking over one of the pear trees. A pear tree that we had tried to espalier at the wall and had survived being vandalised had died so that was removed. There is no sign of the dreaded bindw**d as yet.

We started pruning the fig tree and this needs more work. The objective is to make it more compact and productive and make the figs more reachable as it is rather leggy at the moment with not a lot of fruit coming.

The next workday will be on Saturday 30 May, 10 am - 1 pm.

At last the weather is warming up a bit. The blossom is emerging in the orchard and so are the w**ds! Our next workday ...
19/04/2026

At last the weather is warming up a bit. The blossom is emerging in the orchard and so are the w**ds!

Our next workday is on SATURDAY 25 APRIL, 10 AM - TO 1 PM.

We shall be w**ding around the trees, having a look out for the resurgence of the dreaded bindw**d and enjoying the blossom and budding greenery.

There will be a break for refreshments and a chat as usual.

Please bring gloves and hand tools if you have them

All welcome - see you there!

It was a lovely spring day in the orchard on Saturday and a small but dedicated team got a lot done. We completed winter...
30/03/2026

It was a lovely spring day in the orchard on Saturday and a small but dedicated team got a lot done. We completed winter pruning of apples and pears, including the trees on the apple tunnel, which were tied in. It will be clothed in greenery before too long.

We cut back brambles that had nearly engulfed two smaller apple trees and staked up one that was nearly horizontal. The top beds were w**ded.

Many of the trees are in bud-break and very soon the orchard will be awash with blossom with a great harvest in due course, all being well.

There are lots of daffodils out and plenty of bees around ready to pollinate the trees when the time comes.

It's our orchard workday this coming Saturday, 28 March, from 10 to 1 pm. Spring has sprung, the days are longer than th...
22/03/2026

It's our orchard workday this coming Saturday, 28 March, from 10 to 1 pm. Spring has sprung, the days are longer than the nights and there's lots to be done at the orchard.

We'll be completing the winter pruning of apple and pear trees, clearing around the trees and doing a general tidy-up of the site.

There will be time for refreshments and a chat, as always.

Looking forward to seeing you then.

Here is an exciting outdoors skills training opportunity for young people. Please see all the information below.Hello,I’...
11/03/2026

Here is an exciting outdoors skills training opportunity for young people. Please see all the information below.

Hello,
I’m getting in touch to share an exciting opportunity: The Conservation Volunteers’ John Muir Way Green Skills Traineeship (please find links to advert below)
10‑month Traineeship Programme - Working 3 days/week, Paid living wage

Recruiting young people (aged 16-24) facing some kind of barrier to employment (such as, but by no means limited to, economic challenges, lack of opportunity, lack of qualifications, neurodivergence, mental health issues, anxiety and confidence challenges, care experience, disabilities, etc.)

Training and professional experience delivering practical work outdoors, as a team of trainees.
Focussed on nature conservation and countryside management - aiming to improve nature of sites along the John Muir Way.
I would be very grateful if you could share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested, either directly or to further spread the word with relevant groups, and circulate it within your networks.
We have just opened recruitment for our second round of Trainees:

Recruitment closes Wed 18th March 2026

Traineeship Start Date Mon 11th May 2026, running until mid-March 2027

We are recruiting for 4 teams of Trainees based in different localities working in partnership with local authorities - Edinburgh, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire and Scottish Canals (also based from Falkirk area but potentially accessible for applicants from Stirlingshire, Clackmannanshire or North Lanarkshire).
Job application:
Job Vacancies | The Conservation Volunteers
More information about the programme:
TCV Green Skills: Transforming the John Muir Way | TCV
Thanks to the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and our local authority partners: City or Edinburgh Council, Falkirk Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, and Scottish Canals. Through this worthy project, our work along the John Muir Way establishes and enhances nature corridors through three local authority areas and Scottish Canals; whilst helping young people gain valuable skills and Lantra-certified qualifications in a supportive environment whilst engaging with nature day-to-day, to support employability and progression in the green sector.
Thank you in advance for sharing this opportunity, and encouraging suitable applicants to apply through the links above.
(apologies if you've already received our advert, just covering all bases for the Edinburgh area)
All the best,
Matt Orwin
Traineeship Leader Edinburgh Team

Address

Brunstane Road South
Edinburgh
EH152RA

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