Fruit Routes is an eco-artwork situated across Loughborough University’s East Midlands campus. Established by the artist Anne-Marie Culhane in 2011, its physical form consists of a series of orchards on walking and cycling routes around campus. These are planted with a range of fruit and nut trees including apple, pear, plum, cherry, almond, chestnut and sweet chestnut. Additional trees, including apricot, mulberry, walnut and quince, are planted in cordons and espaliers in areas between the orchards. The produce is free for everyone to harvest.

Fruit Routes is intended to raise questions about the production, distribution and consumption of food in our changing climate. It contributes to campus biodiversity, allows for different forms of knowledge production, and provides a welcoming environment for guests to campus. The route can be utilized as a living classroom or laboratory; or for the creation of community through walking, discussions, events and communal eating.

Curation of Fruit Routes is undertaken in accordance with the Fruit Routes Charter. The University’s Gardens team are responsible for horticultural management, whilst LU Arts and Sustainability share responsibility for its activation through events.

The expansion of Fruit Routes beyond campus has been mooted throughout the project’s history and remains a long-term ambition. The project has also been brought into dialogue with ‘edible campus’ projects at other UK Universities, and enjoys a strong relationship with the University’s student-run Landscaping and Gardening Society.

Read more about the history of the project here, the planting rationale here, and how to get involved here.

Anne-Marie Culhane’s artist website can be found here.