Traditional Orchards
Habitat Description
Orchards are collections of cultivated 'top-fruit' and/or edible nut bearing trees. By common agreement among present orchard-researchers the number of trees required is greater than five. Traditional Orchards are a subset of such orchards and may be described as those dominated by older, less intensively-managed 'standard' trees, with main branches above the reach of grazing animals, and planted at relatively low densities. Associated habitats of hedgerows and the ground flora may also be diverse depending upon their historical and present management. Traditionally grazing of the under-storey in such orchards was not uncommon but is now in some cases mimicked by appropriate mowing regimes.
Traditional orchards can have significant ecological value and wildlife diversity. Ongoing research, in both the UK and abroad, has identified their importance for birds (including the woodpeckers, bullfinch, fieldfare and redwing) and for many other groups of species. In particular, a great part of the diversity has been recorded as depending upon the microhabitats present in, for instance, dead or decaying wood - both lying on the ground and in the trees and to be mediated by rich assemblages of fungi present and by the diversity of saproxylic invertebrate species.
Current UK Status and Trends
Declining
Estimated Current Northants Resource
Between 15 and 90 hectares.
Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007
Survey to identify the extent of remaining traditional orchards, and restoration work at a number of orchards such as Wilson's.
Lead Partner
South Court Environmental
Main Issues and Threats
Insensitive management e.g. Use for horse-grazing which has a number of deleterious effects; Removal of dying trees or parts of trees; Use for overwintering livestock with feed-spillage over-enriching the ground; Lack of re-planting regime to maintain sustained missed-age orchards.
General Strategy
Associated National Priority Species
Specific Management Required for Associated Species
Species |
Northamptonshire Status |
Management Prescriptions |
Key Sites |
Common bullfinch |
Breeding |
Provision of plants that provide seed or fruit buds at different times of year (e.g. herbaceous plants produce seed in autumn, trees in winter, and buds on fruit trees in spring). |
Unknown |
Targets
Target Code |
Target Type |
Target Description |
Target Units |
Northants Baseline Resource |
Target |
By |
Unit Cost £ |
Total Cost £ |
NOR_TOR_T1 |
Maintain Extent |
Maintain the current extent of traditional orchards. |
Hectares |
40 |
No Loss |
2015 |
Unknown |
|
NOR_TOR_T2 |
Achieving Condition |
Maintain the condition of orchards already qualifying as LWS and improve the condition of those that don't so that they do meet LWS criteria. |
Hectares |
12 |
40 |
2015 |
Unknown |
|
NOR_TOR_T3 |
Restoration |
Restore 5 ha of heavily degraded and historic orchard to LWS standard. |
Hectares |
0 |
5 |
2015 |
Unknown |
|
NOR_TOR_T4 |
Expansion |
Establish 5 ha of orchard on land of low conservation value. |
Hectares |
0 |
5 |
2015 |
Unknown |
Actions
Action Code |
Action Description |
Lead Partner |
Support Partner(s) |
Related Target |
NOR_TOR_SU_A1 |
Undertake survey work on orchards (area, distribution in the county, i.e. Phase I surveying) and survey work on the measurable biodiversity value as habitats of individual orchards (character, management, species and habitats present i.e. Phase II surveying). |
South Court Environmental |
NOR_TOR_T1&T2 | |
NOR_TOR_CA_A2 |
Provide information on appropriate management for orchards to their owners and to those wishing to plant orchards in order to attain, maintain and enhance the biodiversity of their habitats. |
South Court Environmental |
Natural England |
NOR_TOR_T1,2&3 |
NOR_TOR_HC_A3 |
Identify appropriate sites for the creation of additional traditionally managed orchards and undertake, or encourage there to be undertaken, the planting and maintenance of such orchards. |
South Court Environmental |
The Wildlife Trust, Natural England |
NOR_TOR_T4 |
NOR_TOR_CA_A4 |
Identify and undertake, or cause there to be undertaken, appropriate education and training activities for promoting the wider understanding of orchards as priority habitats for wildlife diversity and for their additional cultural, health and well-being and community values. |
South Court Environmental |
Groundwork |
NOR_TOR_T1 |
NOR_TOR_CA_A5 |
Identify the means whereby those undertaking traditional management of their orchards have access to appropriate financial gain from doing so, for instance by the sale of products and the provision of services (e.g. education) and Higher Level Stewardship. |
South Court Environmental Natural England |
NOR_TOR_T1&2 | |
NOR_TOR_CA_A6 |
Produce criteria for assessing traditional orchards for selection as Local Wildlife Sites, and assess all existing and newly identified orchards against these criteria. |
South Court Environmental, NBRC |
The Wildlife Trust |
NOR_TOR_T2 |
NOR_TOR_CA_A7 |
Encourage communities to highlight the biodiversity value of orchards in Parish Plans. |
NACRE, Local Authorities |
NOR_TOR_T1 | |
NOR_TOR_SP_A8 |
Where appropriate apply Tree Preservation Orders to safeguard orchard trees. |
Local Authorities |
NOR_TOR_T1 |