Atch Lench Heritage OrchardLeys Road, Atch Lench WR11 4SW Grid reference SP033 505 Purchased in March 2024 Access: Permissive routes and Public Right of Way from Leys Road. |
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Atch Lench Heritage Orchard is located on the road between Harvington and Atch Lench where it holds a high vantage point overlooking the Vale of Evesham. It is an old plum orchard bought in 1999 at auction by a syndicate of local families. Twenty-two people raised the money to buy the orchard to save it from change of use to arable by a local farmer. The orchard was over 40 years old at the time of purchase having had a variety of uses in the past, the last crop being Brussel Sprouts prior to it being planted as an orchard. After taking on the orchard, the owners set about replacing some of the dead and dying trees with varieties of gages and other plums. Pruning, mowing and general maintenance was carried out and the orchard was occasionally sprayed.
VLHT purchased the orchard in March 2024 with the intention of continuing to keep the orchard growing as part of the Vale’s heritage. At that time the trees were around 70 years old with some younger trees around 20 to 25 years old. There were damsons, damazenes and greengages along with plum varieties including Yellow Egg, Pershore Purple, Heron, Victoria, Marjorie’s Seedlings and "Bell Sorano". It has not been possible to find information about the latter variety and it might be another name for Belle de Louvain. All are planted on an approximately six-yard (5.5metre) grid. The fact that there has been continuation planting is very important and VLHT will continue to replant with different varieties of plums to ensure the site continues to flourish in the future.
The invasive Armenian Bramble Rubus armeniacus is present after being introduced to provide blackberries as a crop, but this has formed large patches across the orchard and is smothering some of the plum trees. With the help of volunteers, the trees are being cleared of bramble, while leaving distinct patches of the native bramble species as nesting sites for birds such as Whitethroats. The surrounding hedgerow includes Hawthorn, Privet, Guelder Rose, Bramble and occasional damson trees.
There are Cowslips, Red Campion, Oxeye Daisy, Black and Greater Knapweeds, Field Scabious and Meadow Cranesbill but the wildflowers are not flourishing amongst the vigorously growing grasses. It is hoped that mowing and possible grazing in the future will help increase the floral diversity.
Red Kites, Buzzards and Sparrowhawks are all regularly seen overhead while Roe Deer are present in the orchard and Badgers and Foxes visit the site. Many old trees have been left in situ and deadwood is abundant making the site important for invertebrates including the Noble Chafer.
The invasive Armenian Bramble Rubus armeniacus is present after being introduced to provide blackberries as a crop, but this has formed large patches across the orchard and is smothering some of the plum trees. With the help of volunteers, the trees are being cleared of bramble, while leaving distinct patches of the native bramble species as nesting sites for birds such as Whitethroats. The surrounding hedgerow includes Hawthorn, Privet, Guelder Rose, Bramble and occasional damson trees.
There are Cowslips, Red Campion, Oxeye Daisy, Black and Greater Knapweeds, Field Scabious and Meadow Cranesbill but the wildflowers are not flourishing amongst the vigorously growing grasses. It is hoped that mowing and possible grazing in the future will help increase the floral diversity.
Red Kites, Buzzards and Sparrowhawks are all regularly seen overhead while Roe Deer are present in the orchard and Badgers and Foxes visit the site. Many old trees have been left in situ and deadwood is abundant making the site important for invertebrates including the Noble Chafer.
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Beetles from dead and decaying wood: (Left to Right) Lesser Thorn-tip Longhorn Beetle. Twiglet Weevil. Noble Chafer.
