1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Bradford
Region
Europe
Short description of the intervention
Bowling Park is a public urban park and the key purpose is to grow fruit, develop wildlife habitats and create sociable urban green space as well as maximise the biodiversity of the site and minimise any adverse impact on the environment. The orchard, along with allotment sites, as a whole is a valuable part of the Green Infrastructure Network in Bradford (ref 1). The orchard is developed on six disused allotment plots adjacent to Bowling Park. In March 2003 the orchard has planted over 40 trees including- 35 varieties of apple, 6 pears and 4 plums (ref2).
Address

Bowling Park Community Orchard
Bowling Park Dr
Bradford
BD4 7ES
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-1.744462 53.778875)
POINT (-1.741322 53.777633)
POINT (-1.742263 53.776842)
POINT (-1.745751 53.777006)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google maps
NBS area
74456.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Cultural Heritage Area
Public Greenspace Area
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2000
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2003
End date of the intervention
2005
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
The key purpose is to create a healthy, productive organic orchard that incorporates a range of wildlife habitats in order to provide the natural infrastructure for organic cultivation processes, and also to create an educational natural green space. Additionally, the project aims to maximise the biodiversity of the site and minimise any adverse impacts on the environment. Such as the creation of a pond to encourage insects, amphibians and birds(ref 1). Offer people to learn about plants and also generate local business by selling apple and other products (ref 4).
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: agriculture
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable production
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Create new habitats
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect native species
Means for conservation governance
Public engagement
Implementation activities
The orchard was created on six disused allotment plots. There are about 40 varieties of fruit, mostly apples. The orchard is being managed for the benefit of wildlife and to create space for social events. (reference 3)
A small pond has been created to encourage insects, amphibians and birds. Bird boxes, insect homes and boxes add to the hibernation and roosting places for wildlife, allowing the orchard to support diverse populations. (reference 1)
Products from the orchards sold in the community to generate revenue (ref 4).
Type of NBS project
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Transformation of previously derelict areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Community gardens and allotments
Allotments
Community gardens
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
6 allotment plots (ref 2).
Vegetation Type
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
45
Amenities offered by the NBS
Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Regulating services
Pollination
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
BEES Conservation volunteer group are the main group undertaking the management of the orchard. (reference 1)
Key actors - initiating organization
Private foundation/trust
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Private foundation/trust
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
Green Infrastructure (GI) strategy by Natural England is promoting the concept of Green Infrastructure as a way to deliver a wide range of benefits for people and the natural environment together. (reference 1)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Green Infrastructure strategy by Natural England is mentioned. The orchard, along with allotment sites as a whole, is a valuable part of the GI network in Bradford. ( ref 1)
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
BEES received grant funding from Neighbourhood Renewal Fund administered by Bradford North Area Panel (reference 1)
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Received grant funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund administered by Bradford North Area Panel (ref 1)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Local stewardship model
Green education model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
BEES Conservation volunteer group are the main group undertaking management of the orchard. It offers participants the opportunity
to develop skills and understanding of managing urban green space for wildlife. (ref 1) The orchard is now managed by BEES Conservation Volunteer group and Friends of Bowling Park Community Orchard. (ref1)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased number of species present
Enhanced support of pollination
Description of environmental benefits
The community orchard has not only a variety of trees but also installed bird boxes, insect homes and boxes add to the hibernation and roosting places for wildlife, allowing the orchard to support diverse populations (ref 2).
The project resulted in an increase in the number of bee population, which increase the pollination rate in the orchard (ref 1).
The plantation of different variety of native trees also increases the diversity of the orchard (ref 2).
Economic impacts
Generation of income from NBS
Description of economic benefits
The apple and other fruit produced in the orchard is sold in the local market either in processed or unprocessed form and generate income for the community (ref 4).
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
Comunity apple day and other volunteering experiences make the local community come close to each other and social interaction increased (ref 2).
The children from the local community join activities related to planting of trees or the apple plucking, which give them first-hand environmental education (ref 2 & 4).
Orchard cultivation nationally has declined by 57% since 1950. Community Orchards offer the opportunity to counteract this decline whilst learning and sharing fruit growing skills and growing varieties that are distinctive of our locality and that we cannot readily buy elsewhere. They offer space for wildlife and for the community to celebrate and enjoy the harvest and heritage surrounding fruit growing and its use (ref 2 &4).
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Number of birds and insects in the orchard (ref 2)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: agriculture
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
As of, 17th March 2020, the park suspending delivery of group activities. It was not sure when these sessions will resume, but the authority will keep in touch throughout this period, as will respond to further advice from the government. The authority will keep in touch with everyone and via Facebook and Twitter will share information and just keep in touch (ref 5)
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Bradford Environment. 2007
Bradford Environmental Education Service
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
bradford-bpco_management_plan_2014_min.pdf (841.38 KB) 841.38 KB
List of references
1. Pearson. J. 2014 Management plan review and update. Bowling Park Community Orchard. [ PDF provided in the website]
2. Bradford Environmental Education Service. nd. Bowling Park Community Orchard. accessed: http://www.bees-ymca.org.uk/index.php/places/orchard [As accessed on July 18, 2020] [website updated July, 2020]
3. Bradford Environment. 2007. Habitat management - Bowling Park Community Orchard. accessed: http://bradfordenvironment.org.uk/index.php?q=taxonomy/term/158
4. Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2017. Apple Harvest Enjoyed By Everyone At Bowling Park Community Orchard. [online] Available at: <https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/15597633.apple-harvest-enjoyed-by-everyone-at-bowling-park-community-orchard/> [Accessed 18 July 2020].
5. Bees-ymca.org.uk. 2020. Covid-19 Update | Bradford Environmental Education Service. [online] Available at: <http://www.bees-ymca.org.uk/news/9390> [Accessed 18 July 2020].
Comments and notes
Public Images
Bowling Park Community Orchard
Bowling Park Community Orchard
Source: http://www.bees-ymca.org.uk/index.php/places/orchard