Keep Kilkenny Beautiful welcomes all to our city, at this time of year our approach roads are spruced up, and this includes the bee friendly community orchard on the Waterford road. the trees are currently in flower and we await a great fruit crop later in the year. Congratulations to the Kilkenny Bahai community who came out to maintain the Orchard and Kilkenny welcome sign!.
Throughout Kilkenny our many pear and apple community orchards are flowering in colourful whites and pinks. The wild cherry has already flowered. We look forward to the fruit later in the year. Additional orchard and fruit tree planting continues each year at new locations and existing trees are pruned. Attractive orchards can be seen at various locations and estates through out our City. Examples can be seen at Kilkenny castle Park, Waterford Rd. and Bennettsbridge rd. Along the main ring road there is a variety of fruit trees planted interspersed among the overall planting.
As part of our long term sustainability programme KKB, our many residents associations and our Local Authority are leaving a legacy of extensive fruit tree and fruit bush planting each year right around Kilkenny City. These trees and bushes will continue to give fruit, cover and colour to our community for many years to come, Kilkenny City has a very suitable micro climate for fruit tree planting. Kilkenny: The orchard of Ireland.
Blackcurrant and gooseberry plants having been propagated by Keep Kilkenny Beautiful from 2016 cuttings are prepared for planting to create a new fruit garden in 2017. The fruit is equally popular for jam making as to be eaten our birds during the summer.
Apple tree planting underway 2017 creating a new fruit garden , protection is being provided to protect the base of the trees from strimming and bark mulch to keep growth down by the trees.
There are already many fruit tree varieties in our city , this tree is located in the city centre near the Black abbey (pictured autumn 2016)
Part of the gathering at Kilkenny Park Orchard for the launch. June 2010 copyright Keep Kilkenny Beautiful
An event to celebrate the Kilkenny 400 Fruit Tree project took place at the Orchard site in Kilkenny Castle on Monday 21st June 2010 . A stone plaque was unveiled by Kilkenny City Mayor Malcolm Noonan . The lives of Susie Long, Barbara Gill, Avril Duffy (Kilkenny Earthwatch group) and Steve Clayton (late husband of Tisha Warner – 400 Fruit Tree project) were also remembered at the ceremony. The attendance included many of the groups and organisations who planted some 40 orchards around Kilkenny in the last year.
The KKB have been working closely with Future Proof Kilkenny in developing and implementing this wonderful project. Kilkenny’s 400 Fruit Tree project marked the 400th Anniversary of the Signing of the Kilkenny City Charter by planting 400 native and heritage varieties of Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry and other types of fruit trees in new Orchards throughout the city and environs. The orchards will improve biodiversity and habitat for wildlife.
Mayor Malcolm Noonan with Brian Dillon (Future proof Kilkenny) and Elaine Bradshaw (Hon Sec. Keep Kilkenny beautiful). Copyright Keep Kilkenny Beautiful
For more information and video on the planting:
http://futureproofkilkenny.org/?p=1219
http://futureproofkilkenny.org/?page_id=516
Kilkenny castle and park on the 21st June 2010, Mid summers day! Copyright Keep Kilkenny Beautiful