Orchard Network

From the canopy of the fruit trees to the grassland beneath, Traditional Orchards are rich in plantlife. Perhaps the most familiar (other than the trees themselves) is mistletoe, often found growing in the canopy. Further down, fungi are a common feature in old orchards. They recycle nutrients, and the hollows they create are exploited by nesting birds and other creatures. Lichens, mosses and liverworts are often abundant on the trunks and branches, providing food and shelter for invertebrates and nesting material for birds.

It doesn't stop there. The grasslands in many traditional orchards have been undisturbed for many decades and have escaped agricultural improvement. Members of the daisy family and hogweed are common, while more unusual flora such as green-winged orchids and adder's tongue fern can also be found.

Please select from the lefthand menu to read more on some of the plants and fungi associated with traditional orchards.

Links

Full list of species associated with Traditional Orchards - Natural England

Image: Robin Stevenson