The Cheshire Life Orchard
Bickley’s blossoming orchard project
Historic maps reveal that an orchard has existed at Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s headquarters at Bickley Hall Farm since the 1300s, so it is sad to see that today all that is left is a lonesome Bramley tree and a small row of plum trees.
Determined to realise its dream of creating a demonstration farm that champions the cause of wildlife-friendly farming, and with the support of Cheshire Life, the Trust is working towards creating an orchard that will feature ancient local varieties and provide sanctuary to rescued varieties.
It is hoped that by situating the orchard on a site with community ownership and public access that it will become an important part of local heritage and education. However, for this to happen we really need your help.
Sponsor a tree in the Cheshire Life orchard
Cheshire Life is partnering with the Trust to create an orchard at Bickley Hall Farm that will become a planting model and showcase a collection of traditional Cheshire fruit trees.
You can get involved by adopting your very own fruit tree, and in the process you’ll be helping to recreate a piece of Cheshire history. As Jacki Hulse, Head of Estates and Land Management, explains, “As a result of changes in land management, orchards face an uncertain future, with two-thirds having been lost in the last forty years. So serious is the situation that this year traditional orchards were added to the Biodiversity Action Plan as a priority habitat. One of our aims is to make the orchard at Bickley Hall Farm as accessible as possible to our members and the community, so that as well as creating an orchard we will be teaching people about our farming heritage.”
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Cheshire Life magazine already supports the work of the Trust by carrying a monthly column written by Sue Tatman, as well as featuring articles on the county’s most beautiful areas and landscapes. We are therefore delighted that the editor, Patrick O’Neil and his team, have agreed to get involved with this project.
Patrick says, “Restoring an orchard at Bickley Hall Farm is an exciting challenge, that will truly enrich the natural environment. We’ll therefore be profiling the project in the magazine, as well as offering our readers the chance to support the adoption scheme. If we don’t work together as a community on such initiatives then we are at risk of loosing vital parts of our heritage forever.”
Nature’s fruit basket
Orchards have been an important part of the countryside for centuries, providing a ready-made wildlife habitat.
In spring, the blossoms produce an early source of pollen for bees, moths and other insects, which in turn provide food for a number of birds. In summer, the leafy trees become ideal nesting sites and food for resident birds like blackbird, mistle thrush and chaffinch. And when it comes to winter the windfall fruits offer a tasty selection of food for native birds and winter visitors as well as small mammals like foxes, hedgehogs and badgers.
Featured varieties
Tony Gentil, one of the country’s leading orchard consultants, has surveyed the site at Bickley Hall Farm and provided a detailed plan of recommendations.
Tony says, “My hope is that in addition to work we are doing at Bickley Hall Farm that we can encourage more people to consider growing fruit trees in their own gardens, and in doing so select a local variety. As the stories of the trees that will feature in the orchard reveal, some of the varieties are dangerously close to extinction.”
Featured on the list of fruit trees you can choose to sponsor is an array of wonderful sounding varieties, which have an equally captivating story to tell:
Aston Town pear propagated from tree found in the remnants of a smallholding in Weaverham.
Toadback pear propagated from Green Farm in Wrenbury, from a tree that is over 100 years old. This pear looks like a toad in the grass when fallen, which gave the pear its name.
King pear propagated from the last remaining tree on Crewe Gate Farm.
Wareham Russet apple propagated from an old tree in Weaverham, this variety gives its name to the natives of the town being know as ‘russets’.
Lord Combermere propagated from an old tree at Combermere Abbey. Lord Combermere fought with Wellington against Napoleon in Portugal and Spain.
Gooseberry Pippin apple propagated from the village of Aldford near Chester
Bee Bench a cottage garden apple.
Lemon apple rescued from a cottage garden in Sound near Nantwich. It was the last remaining tree of its variety, and could have been felled due to a house extension, if Tony and his team had not rescued it.
Rakemaker apple propagated from a cottage garden tree in Mobberley.
Milicent Barnes raised by head gardener for the Duke of Westminster in 1902 and named after his daughter.
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