Traditional Orchards Biodiversity Study
Bob Lever brings to our attention the Natural England report on traditional orchards as wild life habitats, particularly for fungi, invertebrates, lichen, mosses and liverworts that live on trees.
Natural England has just published a research report entitled ‘Biodiversity studies of six traditional orchards in England’ (Lush, Robertson, Alexander, Giavarini, Hewins, Mellings, Stevenson, Storey and Whitehead).
The original survey work was carried out from 2004, under the auspices of English Nature, and was used to support the case for listing traditional orchard as a national priority habitat in 2007. More recent research results have also been added to create this report.
The report has been published with a view to informing orchard managers and advisors about orchard biodiversity. It may be used as the basis for developing condition assessment methods for orchard habitat and suggests areas where further research could be beneficial.
The survey methodology is clearly explained and full lists of species found in the orchards are included.
The report is downloadable in pdf format, and makes useful and interesting reading for anyone interested in the conservation of traditional orchards as habitats.
Bob Lever
To read the report - Natural England Research Report NERR025 - and download a copy go to:
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