Last updated: October 2021
Bowling Park is a public urban park and the key purpose is to grow fruit, develop wildlife habitats and create sociable urban green space as well as maximise the biodiversity of the site and minimise any adverse impact on the environment. The orchard, along with allotment sites, as a whole is a valuable part of the Green Infrastructure Network in Bradford (ref 1). The orchard is developed on six disused allotment plots adjacent to Bowling Park. In March 2003 the orchard has planted over 40 trees including- 35 varieties of apple, 6 pears and 4 plums (ref2).
Bowling Park Community Orchard
Source: http://www.bees-ymca.org.uk/index.php/places/orchard
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Community gardens
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
The key purpose is to create a healthy, productive organic orchard that incorporates a range of wildlife habitats in order to provide the natural infrastructure for organic cultivation processes, and also to create an educational natural green space. Additionally, the project aims to maximise the biodiversity of the site and minimise any adverse impacts on the environment. Such as the creation of a pond to encourage insects, amphibians and birds(ref 1). Offer people to learn about plants and also generate local business by selling apple and other products (ref 4).
Implementation activities
The orchard was created on six disused allotment plots. There are about 40 varieties of fruit, mostly apples. The orchard is being managed for the benefit of wildlife and to create space for social events. (reference 3)
A small pond has been created to encourage insects, amphibians and birds. Bird boxes, insect homes and boxes add to the hibernation and roosting places for wildlife, allowing the orchard to support diverse populations. (reference 1)
Products from the orchards sold in the community to generate revenue (ref 4).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Means for conservation governance
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private foundation/trust
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
BEES Conservation volunteer group are the main group undertaking the management of the orchard. (reference 1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Green Infrastructure (GI) strategy by Natural England is promoting the concept of Green Infrastructure as a way to deliver a wide range of benefits for people and the natural environment together. (reference 1))
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Pearson. J. 2014 Management plan review and update. Bowling Park Community Orchard. [ PDF provided in the website]
2. Bradford Environmental Education Service. nd. Bowling Park Community Orchard. accessed: Source link [As accessed on July 18, 2020] [website updated July, 2020]
3. Bradford Environment. 2007. Habitat management - Bowling Park Community Orchard. accessed: Source link
4. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2017. Apple Harvest Enjoyed By Everyone At Bowling Park Community Orchard. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
5. Source link. 2020. Covid-19 Update | Bradford Environmental Education Service. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
2. Bradford Environmental Education Service. nd. Bowling Park Community Orchard. accessed: Source link [As accessed on July 18, 2020] [website updated July, 2020]
3. Bradford Environment. 2007. Habitat management - Bowling Park Community Orchard. accessed: Source link
4. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2017. Apple Harvest Enjoyed By Everyone At Bowling Park Community Orchard. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].
5. Source link. 2020. Covid-19 Update | Bradford Environmental Education Service. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 18 July 2020].