Managing a traditional orchard

The four key principles for managing an orchard rich in biodiversity are:

• An organic system of management with no fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides – manage the grassland by grazing and hay cutting
• Replace trees that are lost to maintain a diverse age structure – replant with varieties of fruit local to Worcestershire
• Retain dead and decaying wood within the orchard – if it does need to be felled and moved then log the timber and stack within the orchard boundary
• Consider the orchard as a whole, not just the trees – associated habitats such as the grasslands, hedgerows and ponds can also have huge wildlife value