Traditional Orchards

Traditional Orchards

a Priority Habitat in the UK and Surrey

A traditional Orchard is one that does not use chemicals and is not managed intensively.

In Surrey we are aiming to identify where existing traditional orchards are. Work is being carried out by the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES).

link to the orchard pages of the PTES

PTES are producing the traditional orchard inventory on behalf of Natural England to support the UK Traditional Orchard Habitat Action Plan. The inventory will complement other habitat inventories available through the Natural England website. It is being produced to national inventory standards agreed with Natural England and is now available to download for free via the Natural England publications download page and via MAGIC from December 2nd

The Inventory is still in progress and volunteers are needed for ground truthing work in Surrey. Volunteer surveyors not only confirm the presence of a traditional orchard but collect additional survey data that is entered into the database and used to produce a condition category for each orchard. The survey methodology is being used across the country to ensure consistency so if you are if you are currently running or planning an orchard project in your area or know of a volunteer group who would be interested in participating in the ground-truthing work, then please let me know as I would be happy to discuss how we can work together to maximise efficiency and reduce duplication of effort.

Community Orchards

If you are interested in saving or setting up a traditionally managed orchard in Surrey. Please contact us to see if we can help.

Contact the Surrey Greenspaces Project for help in setting up a community group. Surrey Greenspaces Project is run by Surrey Wildlife Trust. Link to the Greenspaces Project Pages

Common Ground have some useful books and resources. The inspiring "Community Orchards Handbook" answers most questions you may need to ask. Link to the Common Ground website

Surrey Varieties of Fruit trees

Some lists of Surrey Varieities of fruit trees are available.

• List of Surrey apple tree varieties and details of each variety.appledetails.doc
• List of Surrey Apple varieties.SurreyAPPLES.doc
• Surrey Plums.SurreyPlumvarietiesandnurseries.doc

If you can add to the list of Surrey varieties of fruit trees please contact Sue Webber, the Biodiversity Coordinator. Email address on the detailed apple list.

Root Stock

the M26 or bigger are recommended for Community Orchards

Dwarfing root stocks tend to have brittle root systems and need the support of a permanent stake. They also require good deep soil and to be grown in clean ground.

• M9 – dwarfing, needs a permanent stake, good soil, clean cultivation
• M26 – semi-dwarfing, tolerates average soil conditions, can be grown in grass orchards. Needs a stake as a bush tree for first 5 years
• MM106 - also semi-dwarfing but grows slightly taller and tolerates a wide variety of soils.

If you are planning a community orchard it might be best to aim for trees that will grow to a reasonable height, most community orchards find this the easiest to care for.