Creation of traditional orchards, HC21
Aim
This option is highly targeted to re-creating orchards on sites that are known to have previously been orchard. The option may also be used in appropriate areas to help support specific threatened species such as the rare Noble Chafer beetle. Planting of traditional varieties of orchard tree species will usually be required in the first two years of the option. The trees and protective guards will be funded under a HLS capital works programme. Ongoing management may require livestock grazing and will require the protection and maintenance of the trees. Orchard creation will help enhance the historic landscape character of the area.
Eligibility
This option may be used on sites where there is evidence of previous use as an orchard, for example stumps of or old fruit trees, or old OS or Estate maps.
The option can be used to help re-create and stengthen the continuity of traditional fruit orchards. Where orchards are characteristic of the local landscape as described in the landscape character asessment and are targeted within the JCA.
The option may be used to create new Plum orchards adjacent to existing orchards that support the Noble Chafer beetle.
Suitability
Small improved paddocks or pastures close to the farmstead are likely to be the most suitable sites for this option.
The presence of small improved paddocks or pastures close to the farmstead are likely to indicate historically suitable sites for this option. Use old OS or Estate maps to see whether orchards were once a traditional feature in the local landscape, and if necessary discuss the use of this option with your local historic environment or landscape.
The site and soil must be suitable for fruit tree establishment. Adequate tree planting and management (e.g. weeding, mulching and training) must be undertaken.
This option may be suitable for orchards that have less than one third of the original stations occupied by trees. The more remnant trees left the more suitable the site will be for this option.
Check whether previous orchard grubbing grants have been claimed on the holding as these could place restrictions on replanting fruit trees.
This option is NOT suitable on known archaeological sites.
Prescriptions
| Follow the agreed [management plan / capital works programme produced by XXXX on XXXX]. | Optional |
| Ensure establishment and maintenance of orchard trees and the grass sward by controlling pest species with methods agreed in writing with your Defra adviser. | |
| Prevent damage to trees from livestock [wild mammals / deer / grey squirrels / rabbits / XXXX]. This includes damage caused by browsing, bark stripping, rubbing against trees or guards and soil compaction below canopies. Check, maintain and remove guards and protection as appropriate to prevent tree damage. | |
| Keep a 1 metre diameter circle around the base of all newly planted trees clear of vegetation for at least the first 3 years after planting. You can achieve this by mulching, using weed-suppressing membranes or the use of approved herbicides. | |
| Unless otherwise agreed with your Defra adviser, all mature or over-mature standing trees and all standing and fallen deadwood must be retained, unless it is a genuine safety hazard. Tree surgery must be limited to that required for the safety of people and livestock. | |
| Removal or burning of dead wood is only permitted where death has been caused by a pest or disease likely to affect the remaining trees. Bonfires must be sited to avoid any damage to the crowns of standing trees. | Optional |
| Manage the sward by grazing [cattle / sheep] to achieve an average sward height of between [5cm and 15cm] throughout the growing season, with less than 5% poached or bare ground [and up to 5% taller herbs]. | |
| If grazing is not possible, manage the sward by mowing 80-90% of the area at least [once / twice] each year after 15 July. Cuttings [may / must] be removed. | Optional |
| Do not apply fertilisers, organic manures or waste materials (including sewage sludge) [unless specifically agreed in writing with your Defra adviser and / or stated in a management plan / capital works programme]. | Optional |
| Supplementary feeding is not permitted. | Optional |
| Supplementary feeding is permitted but must not take place within 10m of the base of a tree and is confined to the feeding of [hay / straw / forage roots / concentrates / mineral blocks in fields XXXX. Feeders and troughs should not be used. Feeding sites should be moved regularly and never placed on archaeological features. Hay may be scattered by hand. Creep feeding of young stock is permitted]. | Optional |
| There must be no ploughing or other cultivations such as reseeding, rolling or chain harrowing. | Optional |
| There must be no new drainage or modification to existing drainage systems [unless required to establish a grass sward / heathland vegetation and agreed in writing with your Defra adviser / specifically stated in a management plan / capital works programme]. | |
| [Control all / Remove XX% of conifers /Poplar /Sycamore /Rhododendron /Japanese Knotweed /XXXX]. | Optional |
| To protect the [archaeological /historic feature/s XXXX in/ on XXXX do not place anything likely to cause ground disturbance on or near the feature/s such as fences, feeders, water troughs. / Do not locate access routes on or near the feature/s. / If the feature is being damaged by the use of a PROW consult the Highway Authority. / Do not allow the development of burrows. / By year 2 / stabilise and re-vegetate 40% - 100% of the eroded areas then maintain a permanent grass cover. /Retain and manage trees XXXX to prevent them being blown down. /Remove scrub /trees /XXXX, but leave stumps in situ to rot. / By year 5 /interpretation material should be available]. | Optional |
Indicators of Success
| [By year 5], there should be between [70 and 150 Apple / Pear / Plum / Cherry / XXXX] trees/ha of traditional varieties on vigorous rootstock, that are established and growing free from damage by livestock. | |
| [By year 3 / 4 / 5 / 6], at least [95%] of new trees should be trained to traditional target form. | Optional |
| [By year 3], cover of undesirable species [XXXX] should be less than [5%]. | |
| [Archaeological /historic feature/s XXXX in/on the XXXX has/have] suffered no further degradation. [The depth of soil covering the feature/s has been maintained. /Detrimental indicators (e.g. burrows, bare patches, scrub growth, poaching and erosion) cover less than 5% of the area. /By year 2 /the area of erosion has been reduced by 40%-100% and a permanent grass cover is present. /Cover of scrub is reduced by 40%-100%. /Cover of Bracken is reduced by 40%-100%. /Area of active burrows is reduced by 40%-100%. /There should be no evidence of damage caused by inappropriate heather burning]. | Optional |
Page last modified:
12 July, 2006
Page published: 3 March, 2005