Old orchards have an irresistible appeal. Their ancient trees and
obscure fruit varieties seem to provide a direct link with the lost
rural world of our ancestors, a time when the pace of life was slower
and people had a strong and intimate connection with their local
environment. They are also of critical importance for sustaining
biodiversity, providing habitats, in particular, for a range of rare
invertebrates. Not surprisingly, orchards and the fruit they contain
have attracted an increasing amount of attention over the last few
decades, from both enthusiastic bands of amateurs and official
conservation bodies. But much of what has been written about them is
historically vague, romanticized and nostalgic. Orchards have become a
symbol of unspoiled, picturesque rural England.
This book attempts, for the first time, to provide a comprehensive
review of the development of orchards in England from the Middle Ages to
the present day. It describes the various different kinds of orchard and
explains how, and when, they appeared in the landscape - and why they
have disappeared, at a catastrophic rate, over the last six decades.
Chapters discuss the contrasting histories of fruit growing in different
regions of England, the complex story of 'traditional' fruit varieties
and the role of orchards in wildlife conservation. In addition, a
chapter on researching orchards provides a practical guide for those
wishing to investigate the history and archaeology of particular
examples.
