The Importance of Traditional Orchards

This week I'm heading out in search of traditional orchards! This is part of a big project by the People's Trust for Endangered Species attempting to map the distribution of orchards across the UK, and to better understand how they are being managed. 

Traditional orchards are a really important habitat type that has undergone massive declines in the past few decades (90% decline since 1950s). They are strongholds for vulnerable species such as the noble chafer - a green beetle dependent on the decaying wood associated with mature tradtional orchards. It is in fact important habitat for all sorts of species, from mistletoe and the mistletoe marble moth, to the orchard tooth fungus.

The best way an orchard can be managed for wildlife is by leaving decaying wood (creating important microhabitats for inverts and roosting sites for birds and bats), planting new trees (to ensure succession of habitats), retaining rich hedgerows (important food sources and shelter for a range of species), having light grazing or hay cutting (creating un-even vegetation lengths for inverts) and reducing chemical use (beneficial for all sorts of wildlife!)

So today I headed out in search of some orchards and had mixed success. It took a lot of wandering around and peering through hedges to work out where the orchards actually were. At one point I decided to climb a big old tree to get a vantage point (turns out it didn't help locate it, but it was fun!). The type of information collected at each site included identifying the types and numbers of fruit trees, the general age of the trees and the management of the land, including whether the land was grazed or whether chemicals were used. This sort of information will help build a better picture of the condition of this important habitat type across the UK.

Who'd have thought it!!

If you'd like to volunteer for this project, or own an orchard yourself, head to the People's Trust for Endangered Species website here for more information!