TRADITIONAL ORCHARDS (UK BAP PRIORITY HABITAT)

Summary

Traditional orchards in Scotland are plantations of mature, open-grown fruit-producing trees – mainly apple – which are planted anything from about 3 m to more than 20 m apart and are managed in a low-intensity way, without the use of chemicals and fertilisers. Other tree and shrub species can occur but are scarce. The ground vegetation is most commonly some kind of neutral grassland, either unimproved or agriculturally improved, but can also include other types of grassland and patches of bramble. Scrub, wetland vegetation, ponds and streams can also occur. This habitat occurs within enclosed agricultural lowlands, on various types of soils, slope gradient and slope aspect. Traditional orchards are widespread in the English lowlands, but elsewhere in the UK they are scarce. In Scotland there is an estimated 250 ha of this habitat, with the greatest concentrations around the Tay estuary, the Clyde valley and parts of the Borders and Lothians.

Fruit trees in many Traditional and commercial orchards are managed by means of grafting and pruning, but in commercial orchards they are also commonly treated with fertilisers or herbicides – something not now seen in Traditional orchards. Lead toxicity can still remain a problem in old orchard soils from when trees were regularly sprayed with lead arsenate to control pests. In less-enlightened times orchard owners treated trees with substances such as paraffin oil, sulphur, quicklime, nicotine, and tar-oil washes. It was also traditional to spray against caterpillars with organophosphates every few weeks while the apples were developing.

Management of the grassland component is necessary to prevent the habitat from developing into taller, coarser grassland or bramble and ultimately into scrub or woodland. Typical forms of grassland management in Traditional orchards are grazing by domestic stock and, in mid to late summer if grazing has been removed since early spring, cutting a crop of hay. Mowing, the main method of grassland management in commercial orchards, is less common. Traditional orchards are a good habitat for birds. Fruit trees can support interesting epiphytic bryophytes and lichens: for example the nutrient-rich bark can be a good habitat for lichens of the Xanthorion community.

What is it?

Traditional orchards are plantations of mature, open-grown fruit-producing trees which are managed in a low intensity way, and currently without the use of pesticides and fertilisers. The most common tree species in Scottish traditional orchards is apple Malus domestica. This habitat (particularly elsewhere in the UK), can contain pear Pyrus communis, plum Prunus domestica ssp. domestica, damson P. domestica ssp. insititia, cherry Prunus spp. and the nut, walnut Juglans regia and cobnut (a cultivated variety of hazel Corylus avellana). Trees can be at varied densities, from 3 m to more than 20 m apart. Other tree and shrub species can occur but are scarce and where they do occur they account for well below 50% of all trees and shrubs.

The ground vegetation beneath and in between the trees is most commonly some kind of neutral grassland whether unimproved or agriculturally improved, but can also include other types of grassland and patches of bramble.

Although this is a habitat of well-drained soils, ponds or streams can be present within or adjacent to some orchards. Wetland vegetation such as rushy grassland or marsh can occur around ponds or streams or elsewhere, but is not extensive in Traditional orchards.

How do I recognise it?

In contrast to most other UK BAP priority habitats, Traditional orchards are not defined by any particular type(s) of vegetation, NVC types, Annex I habitats or Phase 1 habitat types. Instead, they are defined by the structure of the habitat:

 Open grown, planted fruit-producing trees spaced at a moderate to high density among unintensively-managed grassland or other herbaceous vegetation.

Differentiation from other UK BAP priority habitats is discussed below (see under Differentiation from other Priority Habitats) and is generally straightforward. The most similar habitats, however, are commercial orchards which do not belong to any UK BAP priority habitat. The differences between these two types of orchard are summarised below (based on descriptions in UK BAP 2008):

Traditional orchards UK Commercial orchards (not BAP priority habitat a UK BAP priority habitat) Types of tree trees do not include short- can include short-lived dwarf lived dwarf or bush fruit trees or bush fruit trees <75 cm tall <75 cm tall Tree density varies from closely spaced (3 variable, but generally more m apart) to well spaced (>20 closely spaced than in m apart) Traditional orchards, and commonly with trees <3 m apart Ground directly beneath permanent vegetation commonly quite bare (or with trees (mainly grass-dominated) annual plants) as a result of without bare patches the application of herbicides indicating that no herbicide to the fruit trees has been applied to the fruit trees Grassland management grassland component can be grassland component grazed and/or cut for hay, but commonly kept short by is generally not mown frequent mowing

The size of Traditional orchards varies, and for mapping purposes the smallest ones are expected to contain at least five fruit/nut trees among which the distances between crown edges do not exceed 20 m (UK BAP 2008).

Differentiation from other Priority Habitats

The Wood-pasture and parkland priority habitat is similar in being defined by a habitat structure of scattered open-grown trees among unimproved grassland or herbaceous vegetation. However, it differs from the Traditional orchards priority habitat in having larger, more widely-spaced trees which are not predominantly fruit- or nut-producing species. Patches of Wood-pasture and parkland therefore tend to be larger than Traditional orchards. Among the associated ground vegetation types, bracken-dominated vegetation can be common in Wood-pasture and parkland, but is scarcer in Traditional orchards.

The dominance of fruit- or nut-producing trees distinguishes Traditional orchards from all woodland types of UK BAP priority habitat, and the presence of these trees distinguishes these orchards from grassland UK BAP priority habitats. Definition in relation to other habitat classifications

Classification Habitat types belonging to this UK BAP priority habitat Traditional orchards are not defined by any particular NVC types but they can contain various NVC communities including MG1, MG5, MG6, MG10 and W24, the critical factor being that these NVC types occur in places where the habitat structure conforms to that of this priority habitat (i.e. open grown, planted fruit- NVC producing trees spaced at a moderate to high density among unintensively-managed grassland or other herbaceous vegetation). (Among the NVC communities listed above, MG5 is included in the Scottish Biodiversity List.)

Phase 1 This priority habitat forms part of the Phase 1 habitat type A1 Woodland (sub-type A1.1.2. Broadleaved plantation, orchard.

UK BAP broad All examples of this priority habitat belong to the broad habitat - habitat Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland

Definition in relation to legislative classifications

Classification Habitat types belonging to this UK BAP priority habitat The Traditional orchards priority habitat in Scotland does not include any Habitats Directive Annex I habitats, but some Habitats Directive English examples include Annex I types such as H6210 semi- Annex I natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies oncalcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia). SNH SSSI habitat The Traditional orchards priority habitat in Scotland does not features include any SSSI Habitat Features.

Where is it?

Traditional orchards occur within enclosed agricultural lowlands, on level to steeply sloping ground with a wide range of soil types but generally avoiding the thinnest, most acidic or wettest soils. The most commonly associated vegetation types, both within and adjacent to Traditional orchards, are neutral grasslands of the NVC communities MG1, MG5 and MG6, but bramble patches W24, acid grasslands U4 and lowland calcareous grasslands CG1-8 can occur. Scrub of hawthorn W21, elder W21 or blackthorn W22 can be present, especially around the margins and even within the more neglected orchards.

Additional habitats found adjacent to but generally not within Traditional orchards include species-poor Lolium grassland (NVC MG7), various lowland woodlands W8, W10 and in England W12-14, bracken W25 and U20, arable farmland and urban habitats.

Where Traditional orchards occur among large areas of intensively-farmed land they can be valuable areas of relatively high biological diversity.

Traditional orchards are widespread in the agriculturally enclosed lowlands of England from South Cumbria and Teesside southwards, but elsewhere in the UK they are scarce. The greatest concentrations in Scotland are around the Tay estuary, the Forth and Clyde valleys and parts of the Borders and Lothians. This habitat has been in decline over the last century or so, with a 60% decline in the UK in recent decades (Tayside Biodiversity Partnership 2009). The total current extent in Scotland is estimated to be about 250 ha (out of a total of 290 ha of Traditional and commercial orchards combined). This compares with estimated areas of Traditional orchards habitat of 28000 ha in England, 440 ha in Wales and 60 ha in N Ireland (UK BAP 2008).

What is special about it? Traditional orchards are well known for their rich variety of fruit cultivars, though this is an aspect of horticultural rather than ecological interest. However, this is a good habitat for many bird species including fruit-eating species. The nutrient-rich bark of many fruit trees, combined with the variation in light and shade, is favourable to epiphytic bryophytes and lichens, especially in western oceanic areas.

Some species of special conservation status recorded in this priority habitat in Scotland are listed below.

EC Scottish UK BAP Habitats Bio- Red Wildlife and Common priority Directive diversity Data Country-side Group name Latin name list Annex II List List Act (1981) bird linnet Carduelis cannabina y y bird tree sparrow Passer montanus y y y bird grey partridge Perdix perdix y y y bird bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula y bird song thrush Turdus philomelos y y y Coccothraustes y y y bird hawfinch coccothraustes yellow- y y bird hammer Emberiza citrinella bird starling Sturnus vulgaris y bird bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula y bird fieldfare Turdus pilaris y y EC Scottish UK BAP Habitats Bio- Red Wildlife and Common priority Directive diversity Data Country-side Group name Latin name list Annex II List List Act (1981) bird house Passer domesticus y y y sparrow bird kestrel Falco tinnunculus y bird redwing Turdus iliacus y y y bird spotted Muscicapa striata y y y flycatcher bird swift Apus apus y flowering bluebell Hyacinthoides non- y plant scripta fungus date coloured Hygrocybe spadicea y y waxcap insect goat moth Cossus cossus y y insect true fly Tanyptera nigricornis y lichen a lichen Arthonia ilicinia y lichen a lichen Leptogium brebissonii y y y lichen a lichen Leptogium burgesii y lichen a lichen Lobaria pulmonaria y lichen a lichen Lobaria scrobiculata y lichen a lichen Lobaria virens y lichen a lichen Menegazzia terebrata y lichen a lichen Nephroma laevigatum y lichen a lichen Pannaria conoplea y lichen a lichen Pannaria rubiginosa y lichen a lichen Peltigera collina y lichen a lichen Pseudocyphellaria y crocata lichen a lichen Pyrenula occidentalis y lichen a lichen Sticta fuliginosa y lichen a lichen Sticta limbata y mammal brown hare Lepus europaeus y y mammal brown long- Plecotus auritus y y y y eared bat mammal hedgehog Erinaceus europeaus y mammal pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus y y y reptile slow-worm Anguis fragilis y y y reptile great crested Triturus cristatus y y y y newt

Also of interest is the recent discovery of the 22-spot ladybird Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata in this habitat on Tayside (Tayside Biodiversity Partnership 2009). This species does not have conservation status of the types listed in the above table, but is very rare in Scotland.

How do we manage it?

Traditional orchards are the result of management designed for the production of fruit (and, in parts of England, nuts), commonly in association with grassland management.

The fruit trees planted in these orchards are long-lived ones which can grow to a good size, unlike the short-lived or dwarf varieties found in some commercial orchards. The fruit trees are generally planted further apart than in commercial orchards which allow them to develop a more open, spreading growth form. This can be favourable for the development of an interesting epiphytic flora of mosses and lichens on the trees.

The silvicultural management has commonly included grafting and pruning. These practices are shared with commercial orchards, but in the latter habitat the fruit trees are commonly treated with fertilisers or herbicides – something not seen in Traditional orchards.

Grassland management is necessary to prevent the habitat from developing into taller, coarser grassland or bramble and ultimately into scrub or woodland. The most typical forms of grassland management are grazing by domestic stock and, in mid to late summer if grazing has been removed since early spring, cutting a crop of hay. These practices, and the lack of intensive application of fertiliser to the sward, encourage the development of at least a reasonably diverse ground flora. Mowing is less common, though it is the main method of grassland management in commercial orchards.

References, links and further reading

Averis, A., Averis, B., Birks, J., Horsfield, D., Thompson, D., & Yeo, M. 2004. An Illustrated Guide to British Upland Vegetation. Peterborough, JNCC. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2463

Ellis, N.E. and Munro, K. 2004. A preliminary review of the distribution and extent of BAP priority habitats across Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.044 (ROAME No. F00NA02). https://www.nature.scot/information-library-data-and-research/information-library

Rodwell, J.S. ed. 1991 et seq.. British Plant Communities. 5 volumes: Vol. 1 (1991) - Woodlands and Scrub; Vol. 2 (1991) - Mires and Heaths; Vol. 3 (1992) - Grasslands and montane communities; Vol. 4 (1995) - Aquatic communities, swamps and tall-herb fens; Vol. 5 (2000) - Maritime Cliffs, Sand Dunes, Saltmarshes and Other Vegetation. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4268

Rodwell, J.S., Dring, J.C., Averis, A.B.G., Proctor, M.C.F., Malloch, A.J.C., Schaminee, J.H.J. & Dargie, T.C.D. 1998. Review of coverage of the National Vegetation Classification. Joint Nature Conservation Committee contract report F76-01-170. Coordinated by the Unit of Vegetation Science, Lancaster University.

Traditional orchards in Tayside – a guide to wildlife and management http://www.taysidebiodiversity.co.uk/Projects/Orchards/PDFs/Traditional_Orchards_In_Taysi de.pdf

UK BAP 2008. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/UKBAP_BAPHabitats-56-TraditionalOrchards.pdf

Usher, M.B., Bain, C. and Kerr, A. eds. 2000. Action for Scotland's Biodiversity. Scottish Biodiversity Group. Edinburgh, The Scottish Executive and The Stationery Office.

Common Standards Monitoring guidance http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2199

National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway https://data.nbn.org.uk/

Scottish Natural Heritage website: http://www.nature.scot

UK BAP information on JNCC website: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=5155