Planting Fruit Trees in Scotland to Support The Local Economy

We were honored to join Sam Heughan and the incredible My Peak Challenge community in Scotland for their annual gala. While there, we helped raise awareness about the importance of reforestation — and got our hands in the dirt by planting fruit trees on Scotland's east coast!

What is My Peak Challenge?

My Peak Challenge is a membership-based Health and Wellness platform that inspires members to live healthier, more balanced lives while raising funds for important causes. The classes are virtual, but community is built through the formation of regional groups that get together to exercise.

One Tree Planted is proud to be the 2022 charity partner of My Peak Challenge. As part of this, MPC is donating a portion of their membership fees to us and a few other organizations. Peakers have also been fundraising for us through our JustGiving platform, which provides a simple way for anyone to fundraise for reforestation. 

What Were We Doing in Scotland?

Every year, MPC hosts a weekend event where a group of highly dedicated Peakers gather in Edinburgh to meet their MPC coaches (and each other!) in person. This usually includes hiking, yoga or gym classes and culminates in an annual Gala event. This year, MPC wanted to engage Peakers in something a bit more hands-on, and planting trees was a perfect way to do that!

Sam Heughan is very passionate about trees and reforestation, and it has been a long-term goal for him to connect his passion for the environment with his My Peak Challenge community. Out of over 15,000 active members, 800 of their most passionate came out to Edinbrugh to plant fruit trees on a local farmer’s land.

Fruit Trees to Boost the Local Economy

Approximately 1,000 bare-root trees of several varieties of apples, pears and plums were planted. These included Champion, Deljonca, Elisa, Idared, Lobo, Piros, Prima, Santana and Topaz apples; Beurre Alexandre Lucas, Conference and Williams Bon Chretien pears; and Cacanska Lepotica, Grose Felicia, Haganta, Presenta and Top Hit Wegierke plums. As the trees grow into maturity, they'll form an orchard that supports farmers and agro-tourism on this land for generations to come. In 4 years, the trees will bear fruit, which will be used to produce baked goods and cider at their on-site cafe, Drift.

We're so grateful to this amazing community, who has fully embraced us as their 2022 non-profit partner. Thank you Peakers for being some of the most supportive tree huggers on the planet!🌏