Guide helps communities fight for treasured places

A conservation charity has launched an online guide to help individuals and communities protect orchards and other wildlife-rich sites when development threatens.

The move is part of the campaign by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) to halt the alarming decline of traditional orchards.

Since the 1950s the UK has lost some 90% of traditionally managed orchards, and almost half of those left are in a poor condition. The root causes for the decline are neglect, conversion to modern intensive farming methods, cheaper imports from abroad and development.

PTES orchard biodiversity officer Steve Oram said: “Habitat conservation is one of our top priorities at PTES and orchards are frequently in the crosshairs of development, so we created the Planning Protection Toolkit to help individuals or communities mount a strong defence.”

The charity is also encouraging farmers to manage their orchards in a way that is sympathetic to wildlife and that helps improves their condition, covering everything from pruning and grafting fruit trees to grass management.

Traditional orchards provide excellent conditions for wildlife to thrive and are home to at least 1,800 species of wildlife.

You could eat a different variety of English apple every day for over six years without eating the same one twice.

The apple – a member of the rose family – is Britain’s national fruit.

To use the toolkit, visit www.ptes.org/toolkit or for more information visit www.ptes.org/orchards