Promoting food security and reducing carbon emissions through the London Orchard Project, UK

The London Orchard Project has the broad aim to build community resilience to tackle the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change. The particular vision of the London Orchard Project is to create mini-orchards across London, thereby developing communities’ access to local food now and in the future; contributing to carbon absorption; reducing the carbon footprint of fruit consumed in London and supporting biodiversity conservation. The London Orchard Project aims:

• To increase fruit harvesting by planting new fruit trees and harvesting existing ones
• To develop communities’ skills to support planting, caring for and harvesting of fruit trees
• To contribute to the knowledge base on innovative food production models aimed at increasing food security in a changing climate
  

The UK ERM Foundation has raised funds to purchase the trees and staff have volunteered their time to provide training to teach the necessary skills to plant, maintain and harvest fruit trees.