Bird and
insect habitats lost as number of traditional orchards more than halved since
1950
Sat 27
Apr 2019 07.00 BSTLast modified on Sat 27 Apr
2019 07.21 BST
Dozens of
traditional orchards are to be planted across England and Wales by the National
Trust in an attempt to tackle the dramatic decline of one of Britain’s most
cherished habitats.
The
charity will create 68 new orchards by 2025 as part of a wider
programme to boost the number of wildlife-rich areas.
Orchards
are to be planted in places including the Penrose estate, in
south Cornwall, and Mottisfont,
in Hampshire. Gardeners will also plant apple, plum, pear and damson trees
at spots including Gunby
Estate, in Lincolnshire, and on the
Gower peninsula, in south Wales.
The
National Trust, which looks after nearly 200 orchards, said it was concerned
that about 60%
of small traditional orchards in England had disappeared
since 1950 as a result of changes in agricultural practices, market forces,
neglect and development.
David
Bullock, the head of species and habitat conservation at the charity, said: “We
launched a new wildlife and nature strategy in 2015, which included an ambition
to create 25,000ha [62,000 acres] of priority habitat by 2025. We identified
traditional orchards as being of particular importance because they provide the
perfect home for a variety of birds, pollinators and insects.
“Every
tree is precious because it can become a home for birds such as the lesser
spotted woodpecker, bats and mistletoe moth. The amazing number of apple and
other traditional fruit varieties that we can plant reflects the wonderful
diversity of life.”
The trust
was keen to use the programme to help preserve heritage fruit varieties, such
as the cider apple variety jackets and petticoats, and the dessert apple
Ashmead’s kernel.
Dr
Bullock said: “Orchards are also vital for people. They provide us with
delicious local and seasonal food and drink, they are places for people to
enjoy and gather, have great cultural significance, and are places of beauty.”
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