Cosgrove Community Orchard
Buckingham Canal Society Adds Colour to its Blue and Green Landscape
The Buckingham Canal Society is making great strides in promoting sustainable and eco-friendly living through our recent efforts to add planters and orchards in the local community. The planters, located at Cosgrove Lock number 21 on the Grand Union, offer a vibrant mix of herbs, vegetables, and flowers, all of which are bee-friendly and suitable for visually impaired individuals.
The nearby restored Bridge on the Canal Arm also features a community orchard, comprised of apple, plum, cherry, pear, and hazel trees, as well as blackcurrant, raspberry, and gooseberry bushes. The fruit produced by these trees and bushes will be available to the local residents and boaters, further promoting community involvement and sustainability.
What is particularly exciting about these planters and orchards is that they not only add visual appeal to the area, but also offer numerous benefits for the local community. Apart from their visual appeal, the flowers provide a natural habitat for bees and other pollinators. The fruit produced by the trees and bushes will also provide a healthy and delicious snack for those passing by.
The installation of the planters and the growth of the orchard has been made possible by the generous donation from the National Lottery “Awards for All” grant which is earmarked to support the building of strong relationships in and across communities as well as helping improve the places and spaces that matter to these communities. With the help of this grant from the National Lottery, communities can continue the process of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, these planters and orchards also serve as a means of promoting sustainability and eco-friendly living. The plants have been carefully selected to be bee-friendly and scent-rich, offering a welcoming environment for all members of the community, regardless of ability.
This effort was supported by volunteers of the Buckingham Canal society who invested several hours to help installing the wooden planters. Our volunteers play a huge role in driving our environmental sustainability efforts. By meeting on Tuesdays, Thursdays and every other Sunday, these pleasant humans play a part in ensuring that we restore the Buckingham arm of the Grand Union Canal and that the communities living along the waterways enjoy the various benefits of living by water.
The Buckingham Canal Society’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainability and community involvement are truly inspiring. As the planting continues over the next few months, it is exciting to see how these additions will further enhance the local area and contribute to a more sustainable future for all.