Stocken Orchard maintenance

Stocken Orchard was purchased with LCF monies as a wildlife nature reserve. As the orchard is a traditional cider apple orchard it is a necessary part of the management/maintenance to remove the apples from the site. This is to reduce the effects that large quantities of apples would have on the wildflower grassland beneath the trees (if left to rot the apples produce a ‘natural herbicide’ which would kill off the wildflowers). There is a good market for cider apples so rather than pay to dispose of the fruit we can harvest the apples and create some derived income to help maintain the orchard. This is a trial for what is hoped will be a sustainable management project for the orchard.