Traditional Orchards Habitat Action Plan

Below is a summary of this action plan. For the full text version and table of targets and actions click here. or to go directly to the WTOP website click here.

The Wiltshire BAP 2002 did not contain a Habitat Action Plan for Traditional Orchards. This habitat was added to the revised UK BAP Priority Habitats and Species List 2007, and as a result of this, when reviewing the Wiltshire BAP it was decided that a HAP for Traditional Orchards should be included in the Wiltshire BAP 2008.

As little is known about this habitat in Wiltshire the HAP is focusing upon fact finding by a volunteer-led project.

Traditional orchards are generally found in lowland areas and are structurally and ecologically similar to wood-pasture and parkland. Historical data shows that over the whole of England, the area of orchard has declined by 57% since 1950. There has been a much greater decline in traditional orchards than other orchards.

Orchard action in Wiltshire

OS Master Map® derived estimates suggest that there are around 487 orchards amounting to 134 ha in Wiltshire. However, ground-truthing has not yet been carried out, so it is not possible to determine the reliability of this data, or distinguish between which of these are traditional and which are non-traditional orchards. The Traditional Orchards HAP has set targets to ground-truth the available OS Master Map® data, and to produce an estimate of the extent of this which is traditional orchard.

Clattinger Orchard

An orchard at Clattinger Farm, owned by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, is to be renovated. The trees are to be brought back to full vigour by careful pruning over a number of years. Nearby a new orchard is to be planted with traditional Wiltshire varieties only. Both will be managed to attract traditional orchard wildlife.

Reeves Orchard

Reeves Orchard, Bratton, Wiltshire – In 1936 a mixed orchard of 11 different varieties of apple and several varieties of damson trees was planted. Gifted to the village in 1988, it lay dormant and overgrown for some years. In 1998 the Parish Council decided to institute a Conservation Management Plan. It is now managed by the Parish Council under Countryside Stewardship. Pruning sessions have been organised with staff from Lackham College.

Traditional Apple Days are held in Wiltshire each year including at Lacock and Lackham College.

Species associated with traditional orchards

Orchards are hotspots for biodiversity in the countryside, supporting a wide range of species. For example, vascular plants such as the semi-parasitic plant, mistletoe, are particularly associated with traditional orchards.

In 2004, English Nature (now Natural England) undertook a survey of 6 orchards. They recorded 131 species of epiphytic lichen, including 16 Nationally Rare or Nationally Scarce species. The Orchard Survey also listed 175 species of fungi including Waxcap fungi - a threatened assemblage of fungi dependant on unimproved grassland.

Orchard trees support many invertebrates including canopy species such as the Nationally Scarce hoverfly, Eupeodes nitens. Orchard floor grasslands also support invertebrates of interest including the Nationally Scarce Grass-feeding Bug Amblytus brevicollis.

A wide variety of birds have been recorded in traditional orchards including 14 Red List birds, 8 of which are priority BAP species. Tree Sparrows and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are declining Red List birds recorded as breeding in orchards.

Small mammals such as Dormice may be found and a variety of bat species forage over traditional orchards including Greater Horseshows, Pipistrelles and Noctules.

The results of the above orchard surveys by English Nature, together with other information on the ecological relationship of orchards to other habitats, suggest that traditional orchards are a significant part of a spatial series or network of habitats at a landscape scale that are able to sustain scarce lichens, invertebrates and other species that require continuity of habitat through time.

A working group has been set up to take forwards the targets and actions under the Orchards Habitat Action Plan.

For any further information or any questions please visit the Orchards Project site from the link above or email us from the box below.