Traditional Orchards

Traditional Orchards are defined for priority habitat purposes, as orchards managed in a low intensity way, in contrast with orchards managed intensively for fruit production by the input of chemicals such as pesticides and inorganic fertilisers, frequent mowing of the orchard floor rather than grazing or cutting for hay, and planting of short-lived, high-density, dwarf or bush fruit trees.

Traditional Orchards became a UK BAP priority habitat in 2007. In Berkshire we aim to maintain the extent of our Traditional Orchards, but to do this we need to know where they are.The People's Trust for Endangered Species have used aerial maps to identify potential traditional orchards in Berkshire although this data requires ground-truthing to confirm its accuracy. The Traditional Orchard dataset is available as a GIS layer from the MAGIC website.

Background

Traditional Orchards are a long established and widely distributed habitat and make a significant contribution to biodiversity, landscape character and local distinctiveness across the UK.  There are many regional variations on this theme, including apple, pear, cherry, plum, damson and walnut orchards.  Although cobnut plat structure and management varies from fruit tree orchards and has affinities with coppice woodland, they are also included in the definition.

They are a composite habitat (similar to wood pasture and parkland), defined by their structure rather than vegetation type, which can include trees, scrub, grassland, ponds, walls, hedgerows and hedgerow trees. Traditional orchards can take several different distribution patterns, including small and large patches, along linear boundaries and trees dispersed among settlements.

Prime traditional orchard habitat consists of grazed grassland with fruit trees of varying age structure, with an abundance of standing and fallen dead and decaying wood. Young trees and newly planted orchards that are managed in a low intensity way are also included in the definition.

Low intensity management refers to orchards that are managed extensively, with little or no use of chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides and inorganic fertilisers, with relatively long-lived trees that are allowed to reach the veteran stage, and with a permanent grass sward that is usually grazed by cattle or sheep or cut for hay. Although traditional orchards have sometimes been established with soft fruit or other crops grown between rows, where these are managed extensively the orchard floor has usually been grassed over once the trees have matured and the canopy has closed over.

In contrast, intensive management refers to orchards managed to maximise fruit production, usually including several of the following management practices; dense planting of short-lived trees on dwarfing rootstocks, high chemical inputs, intensive pruning to remove dead and decaying wood and maintain the trees in a restricted form, and frequent mowing and spraying of the orchard floor.

Planting density depends on the species of tree. For apple, pear and cherry, this will usually be less than 150 trees/ha. (approximately 8 metre spacing between the trees), but for other species such as plum and damson this density may higher. Tree form will usually be standards or half-standards, but will vary accordingly to species and local practice. Vigorous rootstocks includes trees that are grown on their own rootstock, seedling rootstocks, and named rootstocks that allow the tree to develop to its full size.

The minimum size of a traditional orchard is defined as five trees with crown edges less than 20m apart. However, the potential biological and genetic interest of sites with fewer trees, such as relict orchards and individual trees within gardens is noted. Where appropriate these should be considered as potential restoration sites. It is recognised that other sites which fall outside the definition, such as organic bush orchards and fruit collections in walled gardens may also have biodiversity value, as well as historic, cultural and genetic importance.

In Berkshire, there are thought to be 764 orchards, but they need to be surveyed to check if they are Traditional Orchards. If you would like to volunteer to help with further surveys, please contact the Biodiversity Co-odinator or the Orchard Project Officer at People's Trust for Endangered Species.