Volunteers from Network Rail have helped Glasgow‘s Queens Park Community Orchard and the Friends of Elder Park to create a lasting legacy in the city.

The two Glasgow communities were lent a helping hand by volunteers from Network Rail to build a legacy that will last for years to come. At the end of February, the volunteers planted new fruit trees, pruned established fruit trees, and protected plants at the city’s Queens Park Community Orchard. The day was delivered in partnership with Propagate Scotland which manages the site.

Community orchards like this are a big win for biodiversity, and Propagate Scotland was so happy with the work that a follow-up session is being planned for later this year to see how things have progressed.

On St Patrick’s Day, 17th March, volunteers from Network Rail helped a small community group in Govan, The Friends of Elder Park. Here, the volunteers helped to prepare the ground, plant hawthorn bushes, learnt how to graft trees for planting, and undertook maintenance of existing trees. In total, 592 hawthorn bushes were planted in Elder Park.

Working with The Tree Council, Network Rail is keen to develop an ongoing and sustainable relationship with the Friends of Elder Park. Through this collaboration, it is hoped that a tree strategy for the park can be delivered over a number of years.

Keira McLuskey, Head of Sustainability at Network Rail Scotland, said: “These projects demonstrate an opportunity to engage with a grassroots community group and for Network Rail to contribute to what is very much a community-designed and driven project with added biodiversity and carbon benefits.

“We are investing into the heart of the Govan and Queen’s Park communities, and we hope to deliver more of this work in other communities around the country.”

Phil Paulo, Head of Major Tree Planting Projects at The Tree Council, said: “It is great that The Tree Council and Network Rail are working together to get involved in projects that demonstrate an opportunity to engage grassroots community groups.

“The Tree Council is looking forward to working collaboratively with Network Rail in the coming years, particularly in Glasgow. Together we’ll support local communities to make an active contribution to green the city through new planting and the care of the existing urban trees while undertaking a sustainable approach to tree management.”