Is it really already our fifth year of planting fruit trees around Skerries? This year we focused on strengthening what we already have. After all, we now have 14 mini orchards across town. (If you’d like to see them all, search “Skerries Open Orchards” on Google Maps.)

What we did this year: Getting us to 194 trees in 14 mini orchards!

On our planting day (Sat 14 March 2026) we added 23 trees to our open orchards in total, and cared for our existing trees:

• added 7 trees to the Skerries Point mini orchard and 6 trees to Barnageeragh Cove – these are our latest additions to the mini orchards family: The trees we had planted in 2025 were doing well, and these two mini orchards have now doubled in size
• weeded and top-dressed most of the trees in Kelly’s Bay Open Orchard
• supported the Mourne View mini orchards too, with residents receiving 10 more trees for their two mini orchard sites
• replanted some trees that had not made it (luckily that’s usually very few, maybe one in ten or so)

A big thank-you goes to Fingal County Council. Without their support, we could not do this!

The best thing, as always, was doing this together – great chats were had while digging holes, holding trees, adding fertliser, newspaper and manure.

Two new features this year: Brunching & Branching!

For the first time, we had a Bring, Share & Learn Brunch: A good dozen of us shared and enjoyed homemade food in the Mourne Community Centre (big shout-out to Foróige who let us use this lovely facility!) while hearing about the background of the Skerries Open Orchards Project (SkOOP) and how it also fits in with the Skerries Tidy Towns vision!

We also added something else, thanks to Fingal County Council: we were able to give away 20 young apple trees to local residents. Together with the 23 new trees planted into our mini orchards, that makes 43 new fruit trees added to Skerries this spring. That is 43 more trees to feed pollinators, brighten our greens with blossom, and later in the year, provide fruit for all of us to enjoy.

Signs are coming

You may know what the young fruit trees in your local green are, but others may still be wondering. We plan to install small signs at each mini orchard soon, so it is clear what the trees are and who to contact if you’d like to help care for them. Below is a preview!

How you can join in

1) Join a local mini orchard guardian group

Our mini orchards thrive when a few nearby people keep an eye on them through the year, especially during dry spells.

We are currently looking for extra helpers, in particular for the Ballast Pit, the Kelly’s Bay and the Skerries Point mini orchards. If you live near any of those, or pass one of them on your way to or from the train station and could occasionally check in on the trees, we would really appreciate it if you joined the local Tree Guardians. Email sustskerries@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with the local organiser for one of those sites (or any other mini orchard).

2) Enjoy the trees (and the fruit)

The open orchards are there for everyone. When the fruit is ripe, you are warmly invited to pick a few apples, pears, plums and more. Just leave some for others too.

3) Stay in the loop

• Join the Sustainable Skerries email newsletter! Here is the sign-up link: https://sustainableskerries.eo.page/47d1m

• Follow Sustainable Skerries on Instagram and Facebook (and on top of that, do like, comment and share.. this really help us reach more people!)

Next up: Climate Conversations

We’d love to see you at our next Climate Conversations event on Wednesday. No need to sign up, just come!