Loughborough University - Fruit Routes

Tags: biodiversity | guide | campus | Loughborough University

Loughborough University - Fruit Routes image #1

The vision of Fruit Routes is to plant fruit and nut trees along cycle paths and footpaths planted by people who live, work and pass through these places. The project focuses on the linking of spaces and sites through green corridors and is a really active, visible and hands on way of the university promoting and demonstrating its commitment to biodiversity. 

A key aim is to engage staff, students and the local community with the land, the seasons and each other in a sustainable, long term way. This is done in a collaborative way using different activities such as tree planting, barefoot blindfold dawn chorus walks, harvesting events, apple pressings, flora and fauna feasts, cider and wine workshops, gardening workshops, skill sharing workshops, seed exchanges, wild food walks. 

The project has developed new and strong links with local people and local community groups acting as a catalyst for activity across Loughborough. Campus biodiversity is promoted and made accessible through the project with dusk bat walks, moth catching, visits to the apiary and the dawn chorus walks.

Over 150 fruit trees and 600 whips have been planted in the 4 years since the project started.