Orchard (a year in England’s Eden)
Orchard: A Year in England’s Eden is a lovely book by a writer who spends 12 months exploring England’s ancient orchards, collaborations between people and nature, and sources of hope for the future. As the seasons change, a wealth of animals and plants are revealed:
- Bumble and solitary bees apartment-hunting in April
- Spotted flycatchers migrating in May
- Redstarts, hedgehogs and owls nesting in June
- An explosion of life in summer
- The harvest and cider-making in autumn
And all through the year, the orchard’s human and animal inhabitants work together, creating one of the richest ecosystems left in England.
For wildlife-friendly gardens, choose nontoxic humane slug/snail deterrents. If you share your life with animal friends, learn about pet-friendly gardens (many plants and mulches are unsafe). Know trees to avoid near horses (including yew, oak & sycamore).
Use fruit tree protectors and bags over netting (remove pollination (this enables bees and other creatures to reach the flowers, or else no fruit will develop).
Keep apple chunks away from babies (choking hazards) and fruit pips/seeds/cores away from pets (due to natural cyanide). Ask permission before feeding to equines (too many cause colic). If given permission, feed cut up (cored) apple slicers from a flat palm, to prevent choking).
The orchard book (from garden to field)
The Orchard Book is a book on how orchards work with nature, to provide maximum harvest for minimal effort. The author combines 20 years of orchard knowledge to help you plan, plant and manage an orchard, whatever your size and budget.
The book covers rootstocks and fruit varieties, planting plans and pruning, harvesting, storing and how to preserve your harvest. Learn how to plant trees to grow apples and pears, walnuts and cobnuts, cherries and plums.
And learn of ancient orchard fruits like quince, medlar and mulberry as well as more familiar fruits like apricots, figs and peaches. Enjoy organic fruit all year round, from your own little nature haven.
