Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre - Projects

Orchard project

Orchards have been an important feature of Hertfordshire’s environment for well over 250 years. They have provided sources of local food and employment, as well as representing valuable landscape, ecological and cultural components of both rural and urban areas alike. It had been estimated that we had lost over two thirds of the county’s orchards and that most if not all of those that remain are now redundant, a demise that has left us with a considerably impoverished environment. However, no quantified data existed to demonstrate this. If we are to properly address the issue of orchard conservation, we must not only understand what has happened but also identify surviving sites. Such information can then be used to formulate strategies for future conservation, based upon developing sustainable mechanisms for orchard management and use. As part of the Hertfordshire Orchards Initiative, the Biological Records Centre has been investigating historic changes in orchards and identifying existing sites – or what remains of them.

These results are difficult to interpret simply, as they reflect the dynamic fluctuations within a system of traditional horticulture against a background of immense pressure from agriculture, economics and development within Hertfordshire and nationally during the last 100 years. However they do show the changing status of orchards during this period in terms of numbers, areas, type and location, and a general pattern does emerge:

There have been large numbers of orchards of one form or another, and of differing ages, in Dacorum over the last 150 years. Although predominantly small (less than 0.5 ha), they were both common and widespread, in both rural and urban locations alike. Either as discrete orchard sites or as garden orchards, direct association of the population with local fruit growing was considerable.
Although in fact many of these orchards remain in one form or another - the total area has declined by a maximum of around 20% since the 1950s - many of these sites have now been fragmented and often incorporated into gardens, creating increased numbers of ‘garden orchards’. At the same time the numbers of discrete orchard sites have declined by nearly half. More importantly, however, is that the use of all of these sites is likely to have all but ceased. Surviving sites may be numerous in gardens, and may still be found in more rural areas, but crucially actively managed orchards are virtually extinct. Less than 10% of surviving sites were considered to be high quality orchard sites. It is only a matter of time until there is a real collapse in numbers and areas, as nearly all are threatened through neglect or mismanagement. Nevertheless it is clear that many orchards do still survive in one form or another. This must be seen as a major conclusion of the study. Given that even single trees may produce several hundred pounds in weight of fruit, there is still time to consolidate at least some of this resource and restore some active purpose to these sites.

Details about the identification of surviving sites - which could be helped on the ground by local community / Parish surveys based upon the maps produced by HBRC - will be the first but important step in helping to rejuvenate orchards in a sustainable manner. The information and maps will have direct implications for an economic approach to the problem, as well as provide a valuable planning, landscape and ecological tool to help secure their recognition and conservation.

Information from the survey is currently being added to a database. If you would like to take part in the survey, or have a form to return, please contact HBRC, Environment Department, Hertfordshire County Council, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DQ.

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