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WHAT IS ORCHARD
LINK?
Saving Traditional
Orchards
The revival of interest in
orchards owes much to the pioneering work of the organisation Common Ground
who promote the importance of locality and local culture and aim to stimulate
new and imaginative approaches to problems in the countryside. In 1989 Common
Ground published a study of orchards in which they suggested ways of saving old
orchards and creating new city, school and community orchards. In Devon, Common
Ground estimated that 90% of the orchards had disappeared since 1945. With the
dramatic decline in traditional orchards, we have lost many local apple
varieties - some are unique to one parish, or even one farm. the loss of one old
orchard can mean the extinction of a variety - each a part of our local
heritage. Although only a few commercial varieties of apple are on sale in the
shops, Britain's National Apple Register lists over 6000 varieties of apple and
in Devon many more have been identified. Over recent years orchard campaigners,
including Orchard Link, have grafted these rare varieties onto new rootstock,
ensuring a future for our heritage of apples.
The Role of Orchard
Link
Orchard Link was established in
1998 by a group of Orchard campaigners and advisors from Devon's local
authorities, cidermakers and orchard owners.
Orchard Link was set up in response
to the wastage of apple crops from small traditional orchards and the needs of
orchard owners for help and support. Whilst local and national orchard campaigns
have encouraged people to plant and restore orchards, there is still little
support for those doing the work, in terms of advise and training. Until now
there was no provision for collecting and using the fruit which small
traditional orchards produce.
Orchard Link aims to support
orchard owners and enthusiasts, to ensure that orchards are a sustainable
element of our landscape.
We offer our
members:
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The skills and
know-how to manage traditional orchards to produce a useable and more viable
crop |
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Advice on restoring old orchards -
or planting new ones - with an emphasis on the use of local apple
variaties |
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Access to a network of experts -
including horticulturalists, cider makers, nurseries and
conservationists |
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Opportunities to visit other
members' orchards, exchange knowledge and ideas, to use and enjoy their orchards
and apples |
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The chance to buy or sell surplus
apples |
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