In quiet corners of the Severn Vale, lichen-covered apple trees stand as reminders of a time when virtually every farm had a mixed orchard close to the farmhouse. These traditional orchards, with widely spaced fruit and nut trees, provided fruit for the family and shelter for livestock. Cider apples and perry pears were also grown – the production of cider and perry was strongly associated with the area. Commercial orchards in Gloucestershire and the Lower Severn Vale Levels provided fruit for local markets.

About 75 percent of Gloucestershire’s old orchards have been lost, and with them many local varieties of fruit. Despite this, orchards remain a distinctive feature of the area.

With careful pruning and planting, they can be restored to vigor. With the help of local volunteers, A Forgotten Landscape aims to survey the remaining traditional orchards across the project area and to restore up to five orchards in the area over the next three years.

If you have an old orchard on your property, or would like to learn the skills needed to maintain orchards, get in touch.

Why restore orchards?

Old orchards are a characteristic part of the Severn Vale landscape, and the last hiding places of many traditional fruit varieties. Crucially, they provide an important wildlife habitat, partly because herbicide use is rare.

Using the People’s Trust for Endangered Species survey method, A Forgotten Landscape volunteers will survey remaining traditional orchards across the project area. This will give us and idea of how healthy the remaining orchards are and where they might need a little help. Then we’d like to restore up to five traditional orchards in the Lower Severn Vale Levels . Learn more about orchard restoration and biodiversity and our Fruit of the Vale orchard survey.

The Gloucestershire Orchard Trust aims to conserve, promote and celebrate traditional orchards in Gloucestershire, including local fruit varieties.