Planting Margate

On the frosty December morning of 2008, pupils from the Riverside Centre planted seven trees on the Margate Estate with staff from Sheffield Homes and Burngreave Community Forestry.

Heritage varieties of trees were selected including two traditional medlars (mespilus germanica) with large white flowers in May and June, two ornamental pears (pyrus chanticleer) which have a profusion of spring blossom but do not fruit, two ornamental crab apples with their beautiful red leaves, and one black walnut with its characteristic rough bark.

The whole of the Grimesthorpe Road area has a ‘Grow Your Own Food’ theme developing which is really fabulous for local residents. The allotment holders are very active and include the SAGE Greenfingers project. Twenty-two mulberry trees were planted last year by Burngreave Community Forestry on the bank next to the allotments, which are part of a developing Forest Garden. Now the Margate Estate will also provide ‘Food for Free’ when eventually medlars, crab apples and walnuts will be produced! The Riverside pupils have worked really hard to plant seven trees – and we hope they reap the benefits at harvest time.