Stocken Orchard management and harvest

The running of our tractor and harvester is essential for the management of Stocken orchard. To continue to manage the orchard for the benefit of wildlife while producing a crop of cider apples. Harvest the apple crop to sell and leave quarter of the orchard unpicked for wintering birds. To also manage the grassland specifically for pollinators.
“Selected fruit trees will be pruned by contractors during winter 2018/19. Volunteers will be trained and equipped to carry out some of the ongoing pruning. There will be a demonstration of horse-logging in the orchard to promote our work.
The grassland management is being hampered by the many low tree stumps which will be removed to reduce damage to the mower and harvester.”
This Project will maintain our other working orchards for the benefit of wildlife while maintaining the visual amenity and historic landscape features which are disappearing from many parts of the Vale of Evesham.