The wildlife value of an orchard is equally compelling
All trees capture carbon, stabilise soil and enable water retention. Apple trees provide pollen for insects and nesting and food sources for birds: in spring blue tits look for codling moth caterpillars and wasps tackle aphids. The meadow grass around our orchard is planted with 2500 early flowering crocus and will be managed as flowering meadow for diversity. No herbicides or pesticides will be used.
What's happing in winter 2019 to 2020?
Having spent time choosing our apple varieties to best represent the locality, provide a long blossom and fruiting season and to give us a mix of heritage and modern varieties, we have been keeping the young trees – ranging in age from 1-3 years – in plant health quarantine. This gives us a chance to observe them and monitor their health before introducing them to permanent planting in the garden.