Scottish Canals puts down roots for community orchard at The Falkirk Wheel

Event at The Falkirk Wheel brought together schoolchildren and volunteers to plant a community orchard in the attraction’s grounds

Monday 9th March 2026. This morning, Scottish Canals opened up an area of the grounds at The Falkirk Wheel for planting of a community orchard, as part of its Falkirk Wheel Masterplan to improve facilities and make the most of the surrounding estate.

The project team, which is overseeing orchard and hedgerow restoration in the area, was joined by students from Falkirk High, St Mungo’s High School and volunteers and staff from Forth Valley Sensory Centre, FEL Scotland and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). Funding for the project was received from Falkirk Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

John Hancox, a leading expert in heritage fruit, joined the tree-planting, and introduced students to Scotland’s rich orchard heritage and the importance of restoring local varieties of fruit.

The first fruit tree of the project, a Scottish variety of apple, was planted by Brian Auld, Interim Director of People, Safety and Governance at Scottish Canals.

The initiative is part of a wider commitment by Scottish Canals to find new and additional ways for the canal network to benefit local communities and provide richer habitats for wildlife. 

Later this year, Scottish Canals plans to host a series of talks on woodland restoration and orchard conservation as part of the celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the historic Millennium Link Project, which re-opened and reconnected Scotland’s Lowlands canals. 

“Orchards were once common features in our landscape and many localities could boast their own unique varieties of fruit – so many of which have been lost in the past two centuries,” commented Brian Auld.  

“Orchards offer a unique kind of habitat for our wildlife and native plants. They allow for long grasses and wildflowers to grow under their canopy more extensively than in woodlands, providing a lifeline for many insects and mammals as well as the plant species they depend upon. Orchards are good for people too; as we’ve seen today, there is great enthusiasm in the community for getting involved in tree growing and harvesting.”

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council said: “The Falkirk Wheel is one of our area’s best-known landmarks and visitor attractions, but it’s also a place that local people use and enjoy throughout the year. Projects like this help strengthen that connection between the community and the landscape around it. 

“It’s great to see young people from St Mungo’s High School working alongside local volunteers to plant the first trees for this orchard. As the trees grow, they will create a space that supports wildlife, celebrates our local heritage and can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. 

“Falkirk Council was pleased to support this project, and we look forward to seeing the orchard flourish and become part of the wider landscape around the Falkirk Wheel for many years to come.”