Traditional Orchard
Traditional orchards are hotspots for biodiversity in the countryside with their large and wide spaced trees.
Sadly ‘90% of England’s traditional orchards have been lost’ (source: People’s Trust for Endangered Species) along with local varieties that are no longer commercially viable. Supermarkets like regular sized and shaped apples, ones that don’t bruise easily, importing over half from as far away as New Zealand.
We intend to restore and regenerate our orchard, and planted over 70 new fruit trees in early 2025, predominately apple varieties with the help of local volunteers.
As Mayes Park is situated in Sussex we decided to help preserve our local apple varieties by planting at least two of each of the remaining fantastically named Sussex trees to help ensure they become more widely known and appreciated.