What is an orchard?
Technically an orchard is 5 or more trees. Romans probably first introduced orchards to Britain. In mediaeval times many monasteries would have had an orchard and orchard growing was expanded by the Normans who introduced many new varieties especially for cider. Homesteads would often grow a few fruit trees close to the house. Commercial apple cultivation really boomed in the mid-19th century with the development of many new varieties.
Fruit growing declined from the 20th century onwards due to diseases, a demand for land, cheaper imported varieties, and the growth of supermarkets. Many orchards were grubbed up in the 1930’s and replaced with a single variety, Cox’s Orange Pippin.
The recent Orchards East survey by the University of East Anglia showed that 80% of orchards have been lost in the East of England and this trend is reflected across the whole of the country.
Why are orchards important?
‘Biodiversity is the biological variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is measured by variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level’
Unlike commercial orchards, traditional orchards are a haven for wildlife. Old fruit trees with mossy, lichen covered branches and dead wood, provide food and shelter for a wide variety of insects and mammals. These, when combined with hedges and meadows, are the most biodiverse of any agricultural habitat thus supporting the greatest variety of animals and plants. In addition, traditional orchards like ours, will contain many heritage trees which are old varieties which are no longer grown commercially. They are valuable because they can be used in the future for fruit breeding. The commercial production of just a few varieties worldwide leads to greater vulnerability, especially to diseases, so heritage varieties are a wonderful source of useful genes.
Orchards are also important culturally. To quote from the Orchards East project
‘Our ancestors were surrounded by orchards. Their general disappearance over the last few decades represents a profound discontinuity with a long past. Above all, the direct and almost primordial sensory experiences that orchards provide – the tastes of the many varieties of fruit, the beauty of spring blossom, the sound of birdsong, the rough textures of old bark – constitute a powerful antidote to the blandness which characterises so much of modern life.’
A medicinal treasure trove
Our little haven holds many gifts and one of the things that we are passionate about are the many native plants including medicinal herbs in the orchard meadows and surrounding hedgerows. Medicinal plants include Dog Rose, Brambles, Plantain, Stinging Nettles, Ground Ivy and Burdock and many trees Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Birch, Elder, Willow, Rowan and Crab Apple.
What makes up a plant?
Leaves are the site of photosynthesis which creates sugars, food for the plant, from carbon dioxide in the air and water in the soil.
Roots absorb of water and minerals and anchor the plant in the soil. They interact with mycorrhizal fungi who help increase uptake of water and minerals in exchange for food from the plant.
Stems support leaves, flowers and fruits and also transport water and minerals from roots to leaves and sugars from the leaves to other plant parts.
Flowers attract animals by having showy petals and providing nectar and pollen. In return the animals spread pollen to other flowers in the process of pollination. Some flowers also disperse their pollen on the wind. Pollen contains the male sex cell which fuses with the female sex cell or ovum in the ovary of the flower. Fertilisation has taken place!
Seeds are the fertilised plant ova containing all the genetic material needed for a full-grown plant. They can contain inhibitors that prevent seeds germinating immediately. These are deactivated once the seed is planted and conditions for successful germination improve.
Fruits develop from the fertilised ovary and protect and help disperse the seeds inside.
