BRITISH COLUMBIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
BCIT plants new orchard close to Guichon Creek

BCIT has planted a new orchard on the Burnaby Campus on a previously unused area of lawn close to Guichon creek on the south side of campus.

The team from Campus Planning and Facilities recently completed planting more than 20 fruit trees from a variety of species, including apples, Asian pears, plums, and cherries. They chose a mix of cross-pollinating species that flower and fruit at different times, to extend the period when food can be foraged.

The team planted trees that are hardy to our climate, a few years old, and will even produce fruit this year.

The new orchard adds to BCIT's network of edible gardens across campus. Across the Burnaby campus, you can find a wide variety of fruit trees, shrubs, annuals, edible native plants, and a dedicated Indigenous Garden that includes a Three Sisters' planting. These edible gardens are a free foraging/sampling resource that provides a great habitat for pollinators like bees and food for many bird species.

Find out more about our landscaping work and network of edible gardens

Adam Dickinson, BCIT's Manager of Transportation, Landscaping and Grounds explains: "We're excited for the support of our Campus Planning team to get this new orchard established. We try to find creative ways to use the land on campus that add to our biodiversity and climate resilience while improving the experience for students, staff and visitors."

For this project, the land was previously unused and is above grade close to Guichon Creek, so planting trees helps to improve the natural drainage into the creek. At the same time, planting fruit trees, and other edible plants is part of our strategy to encourage, and support pollinators like bees, and birds on campus.

Adam continues: "It is so important that we create calm enjoyable green spaces where our community can relax and interact with nature and in this case, take the opportunity to enjoy some fruit when harvest season comes around."

Interested in learning more about our grounds and landscaping?

• BeeCIT Pollinator Program
• Guichon Creek (including trail map)
• Invasive Species Management Plan