If you are lucky enough to own an orchard within the area of what used to be called Gwent (Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Caerphilly, Newport, Blaenau Gwent), then please take 5 minutes to complete our Orchards Owner’s Questionnaire.

The information gathered from these questionnaires will be used to target orchards to survey as part of the Gwent Orchards Project. It will also inform us of whether orchards within the area are being managed and how they are being managed. It will allow us to find out if the fruit is being used and how it is being used. It will also provide us with information about what varieties people are planting or have planted, giving us valuable information about the distribution of traditional Welsh fruit varieties.

Gwent Wildlife Trust will be happy to provide you with advice on how to manage your orchard most effectively for wildlife, in a traditional manner. Please contact us for details. Downloadable advice sheets are available here .

Orchard near Newport © Gabi Horup

Do you own an orchard but do not know what to do with your fruit?

Or are you a cider, perry or juice maker who is after fruit?  Please contact us or the Welsh Perry and Cider Society www.welshcider.co.uk/.

I want to own an orchard…

The Gwent Orchards Project wants to help provide advice and support to those people wishing to plant new orchards within the region. It has been estimated that we have lost almost 90% of our orchards in the last 50 years. We can help stop this decline by planting new orchards.

1. Private owners
There are many things to consider about planting an orchard. If you have a flower rich hay meadow present where you want to plant your orchard, it is very much advisable to leave the meadow as it is and consider planting your orchard elsewhere. Although, under the right management, a flower meadow may develop in an orchard, planting trees in an already existing meadow will actually destroy the habitat.

It is also worth considering the structure of your soil. Your soil may need to be prepared beforehand if you have too high a clay or sand content. Please also consider site exposure to wind and frost. Fruit blossom is highly susceptible to frost damage, particularly the earliest blossoming varieties. Frost pockets may develop at the foot of a valley, so plant earlier blossomers higher up the slope. There are many advice sheets about planting orchards, please check our Resources & Links for links to this information.

2. Community projects
Community orchards can be a fantastic way of enjoying the benefits of an orchard without needing to own the land yourself. There are many groups set up already involved with these kinds of projects, check the Resources & Links for links. If there are no groups set up near you, why not set up your own community orchards project?

3. School projects
Similar to community orchards, school orchards can be an excellent way to allow school children to enjoy orchards, without needing to live near one. Orchards can be an excellent learning resource for school children. Please download this flyer ‘Orchards in Schools’ and check the Resources & Links  for links to charities involved specifically with orchard creation in schools.

Newly planted orchard © Alice Rees

For both current and perspective orchard owners…
Please check the Resources & Links page for information on downloadable documents and societies to facilitate the creation or management of your orchard. You can also contact the trust for more information.
 

If you would like to be involved in this project, or would like to request further information, please contact Alice Rees, the Perllannau Gwent / Gwent Orchard Project officer on arees@gwentwildlife.org or 01600 740600.