This section of our website introduces some of the flora that we have found in our two community orchards in Old Church Road Colwall, or which you can expect to find in a well-managed, mature traditional orchard. This is only a snapshot of the wide diversity of species associated with this important habitat.
We have several of these handsome trees as veterans at our Lugg's Mill Orchard site. This is a British native species, and is a member of the Acer genus, and as such it has good autumn colour. It makes an attractive tree which starts life growing at a fast pace but then the growth rate slows.It is long lived and may become as old as 350 y
We have several of these handsome trees as veterans at our Lugg's Mill Orchard site. This is a British native species, and is a member of the Acer genus, and as such it has good autumn colour. It makes an attractive tree which starts life growing at a fast pace but then the growth rate slows.It is long lived and may become as old as 350 years. Medieval superstition had it that if you passed a maple branch over a child it would remove all traces of witchcraft.
The cowslip is a cheery spring flower, a relative of the primrose. It was once a common plant of meadows, ancient woodlands and hedgerows but its populations have declined as these habitats have been lost. The name cowslip refers to 'cow-slop' a nod to its habitat of cattle-grazed meadows where cow pats are present. We have planted plug
The cowslip is a cheery spring flower, a relative of the primrose. It was once a common plant of meadows, ancient woodlands and hedgerows but its populations have declined as these habitats have been lost. The name cowslip refers to 'cow-slop' a nod to its habitat of cattle-grazed meadows where cow pats are present. We have planted plug plants of this species at the North West corner of our Colwall Village Garden site where they usually flower in March or April.
A stalwart of our hedgerows this is an attractive and useful plant. Hazels can grow into trees, be used in hedges, or can be coppiced regularly every seven years or so to produce materials such as laths for building or wattle fencing. We use hazel pleachers (upright stakes) and binders (material used to hold down laid hedges) as part of o
A stalwart of our hedgerows this is an attractive and useful plant. Hazels can grow into trees, be used in hedges, or can be coppiced regularly every seven years or so to produce materials such as laths for building or wattle fencing. We use hazel pleachers (upright stakes) and binders (material used to hold down laid hedges) as part of our hedgelaying. The nuts are a food for dormice and the Celts believed that hazelnuts gave one wisdom and inspiration.
If you want to help reduce the vigour of the existing grass sward in an orchard to encourage wildflowers to grow then this is the plant that you need to introduce. Known as the 'the meadow maker' this is an annual, hemi-parasitic plant that feeds off the roots of grasses, thus reducing their ability to crowd out other meadow wildflowers.
If you want to help reduce the vigour of the existing grass sward in an orchard to encourage wildflowers to grow then this is the plant that you need to introduce. Known as the 'the meadow maker' this is an annual, hemi-parasitic plant that feeds off the roots of grasses, thus reducing their ability to crowd out other meadow wildflowers. When the flowers of yellow-rattle fade, the brown calyxes (containing the sepals) in which the tiny seeds ripen can be seen and heard - they give a distinctive 'rattle', hence the common name.
Something of a rarity, we are pleased to have discovered Toothwort at our Lugg's Mill Orchard site. This is a plant which has no chlorophyll so is unable to photosynthesise. It obtains its nutrients by being parasitic on other plants such as hazel or, as at Lugg's Mill Orchard, alder. It prefers shady spaces and in our orchard is to be f
Something of a rarity, we are pleased to have discovered Toothwort at our Lugg's Mill Orchard site. This is a plant which has no chlorophyll so is unable to photosynthesise. It obtains its nutrients by being parasitic on other plants such as hazel or, as at Lugg's Mill Orchard, alder. It prefers shady spaces and in our orchard is to be found growing in clumps very close to the stream near to the footbridge.
Another less common plant. We have introduced some wild service trees into our native species hedgerow mixes and intend to allow one or two to grow on as standard trees in the hedge line. It has frothy white flowers in the spring, and green-brown oval fruits borne in the autumn. Known as 'chequer's, the fruits are said to taste like dates
Another less common plant. We have introduced some wild service trees into our native species hedgerow mixes and intend to allow one or two to grow on as standard trees in the hedge line. It has frothy white flowers in the spring, and green-brown oval fruits borne in the autumn. Known as 'chequer's, the fruits are said to taste like dates and were, in the past, given as sweets to children. It's a British native tree growing up to 25m tall and favours clay soils.
Less common than its white relative this is an important herbaceous perennial plant of grassland. It fixes nitrogen into the soil and flowers between April and September. It is a valuable source of sweet nectar, much-loved by insects, hence its colloquial names of 'bee-bread', 'honeystalks' and 'suckbottles'.
Frothy white spring flowers and bright red berries make this a standout plant in hedgerows. The red berries are an important food source for birds, including bullfinch and mistle thrush. The shrub canopy provides shelter for other wildlife. The flowers are especially attractive to hoverflies. Guelder Rose is one of the national symbols of Ukraine.
An orchard sward/meadow plant with an edible tuber at the base of the roots, it is also known as 'earth chestnut', 'ground nut' and 'kipper nut'. It has delicate carrot-like leaves and umbels of white flowers. The tubers take years to grow and care must be taken to only take tubers attached to the roots to avoid ingesting other bulbs that might be present like the poisonous bluebell.
Meadow buttercup is a widespread and common perennial in meadows and pastures. It prefers slightly damper, calcareous sites, where it can grow so dense that it forms yellow meadows that dazzle in the sunshine. It flowers between April and October. It does not have the runners associated with creeping buttercup. This plant has a chemical c
Meadow buttercup is a widespread and common perennial in meadows and pastures. It prefers slightly damper, calcareous sites, where it can grow so dense that it forms yellow meadows that dazzle in the sunshine. It flowers between April and October. It does not have the runners associated with creeping buttercup. This plant has a chemical called protoanemonin in its sap which is poisonous to grazing animals so they don't eat it.
Common sorrel is a common, upright plant, often found in grassland. It has slender leaves and attractive flowers that appear in May and June, peppering the green grasses of our meadows with crimson and pink. Its numerous other common names, from 'sour ducks' to 'vinegar plant', all allude to the fact that its edible leaves taste extremely tart and dry due to their high levels of oxalic acid.
A stalwart of hedgerows locally we like this plant despite its ferocious long, sharp thorns. It is a useful plant for nesting birds. A member of the Rosaceae family it has attractive early white blossom and produces dark black fruit called sloes. The sloes are quite astringent and should ideally be harvested after frosts have started to b
A stalwart of hedgerows locally we like this plant despite its ferocious long, sharp thorns. It is a useful plant for nesting birds. A member of the Rosaceae family it has attractive early white blossom and produces dark black fruit called sloes. The sloes are quite astringent and should ideally be harvested after frosts have started to break them down. Sloes can be used in recipes for diverse products such as spirits, wines and jams.
Sometimes plant names just hit the spot and 'Ragged Robin' somehow seems very appropriately named with its frayed pink flowers and narrow, grass-like leaves. This perennial plant favours moist soil and we have planted plug plants in the wetter areas of our orchard at Colwall Village Garden. The flowers contain nectar and are popular with dragonflies, bees and butterflies.
If you imagine a gorgeous wildflower meadow then there's a fair chance that this iconic plant will form part of the scene. The yellow centre of the flower is made up of many tiny flowers with nectar much loved by bees, butterflies and hoverflies. This plant was thought to be strongly linked to divination, particularly in France, where it
If you imagine a gorgeous wildflower meadow then there's a fair chance that this iconic plant will form part of the scene. The yellow centre of the flower is made up of many tiny flowers with nectar much loved by bees, butterflies and hoverflies. This plant was thought to be strongly linked to divination, particularly in France, where it would be used in romantic predictions. These links to divination have filtered down to the modern game of ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ where petals are picked to determine luck in love.
Somehow this plant looks way too exotic to be a British Native but this long-lived deciduous tree, or hedging plant, definitely is. A member of the Euonymus genus it is probably at its best in autumn with its pink fruits with bright orange seeds. At the same time the foliage turns from green to orange-red. Spindle is an important food pla
Somehow this plant looks way too exotic to be a British Native but this long-lived deciduous tree, or hedging plant, definitely is. A member of the Euonymus genus it is probably at its best in autumn with its pink fruits with bright orange seeds. At the same time the foliage turns from green to orange-red. Spindle is an important food plant of several moth species. It is attractive as a host plant to aphids and those, in turn, are predated by hoverflies, ladybirds and lacewings.
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