Despite being planted to produce fruit, either commercially or in a garden, orchards can also be wonderful places to see wildlife - from bats to butterflies and uncommon species of birds. The trees themselves can support lichens, ivy and occasionally mistletoe once they've matured, and the grassland underneath, and decaying wood can be important places for mushrooms and a huge number of insects. Orchards can also be carpeted with wildflowers in the spring, providing a source of nectar for insects that will help pollinate the fruit and destroy pests.
Everyone knows that bees love wildflowers, and the nectar that they provide, but bees are also vital for the survival of orchards. Apples, pears, plums and cherries, along with all other kinds of soft fruit - raspberries, blackberries and red currants to name a few, all rely on pollination by bees in order to produce fruit. Bees also rely heavily on trees too - not only for the nectar in the flowers, but also for shelter and nesting. Bumblebees will readily use old root cavities, holes in bark and other crevacies for nest sites or shelter holes during bad weather.
The word ‘Orchard' conjures up images of rambling old trees, covered in lichens and mosses ladened down with heavy apples or pear. But, this does not have to be the case. Anything over 5 cultivated fruit trees can be classed as an orchard, and will over time give as much benefit to bees as the traditional orchard seen in the countryside. Small orchards can also combine hedgerows, ‘wild' fruit trees such as rowan, crab apple and elder, and wildflower meadows to provide a great mix of habitats for the bees, as well as for other wildlife.
So, if you have a bit more space and want to do a little something extra for the WeeBees, try planting a fruit tree or two in amongst you wildflower meadow.
