Orchards being celebrated in Cam

A traditional orchard is defined as having at least five fruit trees

With growing fears that traditional orchards are in danger of disappearing, a Gloucestershire charity is hoping to raise awareness by celebrating Apple Day 2009 at Holywell Orchard in Cam.

The national initiative, launched in 1990 by Common Ground, intends to be both a celebration and a demonstration of orchard life, not simply with fruit, but richness and diversity of landscape, ecology and culture too.

The Stroud Valleys Project has been working with volunteers at Holywell Orchard for several years. Project officer Richard Lewis said: "Orchards in England have declined by almost 60 per cent in the last 50 years.

You do not have to own an orchard to do something positive - attending an apple day is a fun way to find out more about orchards," said Richard Lewis. Richard Lewis

"According to the records in 1839 there were 99 orchards in Cam and now there are only three. This means we are losing many unique tastes and flavours that are special to Gloucestershire.

"Apple Day plays a part in raising awareness not only of the importance of orchards to our landscape and culture, but to the growing interest in locality and in the traceability of food.

"As orchards are lost so are important habitats for our wildlife such as the green woodpecker and the noble chafer beetle. And traditional orchards also provide sources of pollen and nectar for bees."

Traditional orchards

A traditional orchard is defined as having at least five fruit trees. The trees are widely spaced and allowed to reach a veteran-hollowed and gnarled-stage.

They are subject to low intensity management with few or no chemical inputs and they're often grazed by animals such as sheep or cut for hay.

Though they are relatively small in area traditional orchards are important for a wide range of species.

Part of the celebration in Cam will include apple juicing, apple tasting and creating the longest apple peel. Local people are asked to bring along their own apples and plastic bottles to make their own juice and apple peelers.

"You do not have to own an orchard to do something positive - attending an apple day is a fun way to find out more about orchards," said Richard Lewis.

"You could even plant your own apple tree using a local variety and bring the apples along for juicing. This year we have bought our own juicer which people can hire out."

Apple Day runs at Holywell Orchard in Cam from 1-4pm on Saturday, 17 October, 2009