Orchard Network

Invertebrates

Traditional Orchards are a particularly important habitat for invertebrates. Fruit trees are known as 'early senescent hardwoods' - in other words, they are short lived in comparrison to other hardwood species (e.g. Oak, Ash) and begin to produce the veteran tree features such as hollow trunks, rot holes and split bark relatively quickly. Because of the wide tree spacing in Traditional Orchards compared to woodland, the dead and decaying wood is usually in open locations. These conditions create good habitat for insects and other invertebrate species which depend on decaying wood habitats. Over 400 specialist wood decay species have been found in Traditional Orchards. Spring time blossom and the wildflowers in the orchard floor and hedgerows are a good source for pollen and nectar for bumblebees, butterflies and other insects.

Birds 

A great variety birds take advantage of the feeding, nesting and roosting opportunities in Traditional Orchards. Hollow branches or tree trunks may host birds such as green, great spotted and the declining lesser spotted woodpecker. Bluetits and chaffinches like to nest in the branches, while in the winter months, fieldfares and redwings like to feed on the fallen fruit.

Mammals

Foxes will visit orchards for hunting and along with badgers, will also eat fallen fruit. A variety of bats forage over Traditional Orchards including pipstrelle and greater horseshoe. Dormice have been found in Cobnut plats, and also forage and nest in hedgerows.

Read on about some real Traditional Orchard specialists in more detail by selecting from the left hand menu.

Links

Full list of species associated with Traditional orchards - Natural England