Farming in Protected Landscapes Case Study:
Hall Farm - Restoration Pruning for Traditional Orchard
This project was for restorative pruning to promote form and resilience of the traditional variety fruit trees planted in 2000 and 2006. Hall Farm near Little Horkesley was granted £3,323 over two years, 2023 to 2025.
Traditional orchards were once a characteristic feature of the farmed landscape being closely associated with the farmhouse, but many have died out and not been replaced.
Why are orchards important in the Dedham Vale?
Little Horkesley was a village with several small orchards in the mid-latter part of the C19. The orchard at Hall Farm is thought to be the only representative of this once more extensive habitat in the village centre.
Traditional orchards are an important pollen and nectar resource for farmland wildlife as well as for a range of specialist invertebrates that may be associated with this priority habitat. Fallen fruits are an important food resource for birds such as fieldfare and redwing.
Why was this work needed now?
Now the orchard trees are nearly 20 years old, work was urgently needed to promote their resilience to high winds that are increasingly frequent occurrences. Trees may be lost if work not undertaken.
Pruning was needed to promote tree form and thus longevity to create veteran fruit trees of the future. Careful pruning of the fruit trees promoted the longevity of this specialist priority habitat and contributed to create a diversity of tree age structure through the orchard – essential for associated specialist invertebrates living there.
Extremes of weather (high wind & heavy rainfall events) are expected to increase in frequency. Pruning to promote vigour will reduce risk of windthrow to trees
Many commercial fruit trees on a dwarfing rootstock have a life expectancy of only 15 years, before they become too weak to support fruit production and are pulled out and replaced. With appropriate management traditional varieties such as at Old Hall Farm which are on non-dwarfing rootstocks have a potential life span of 50+ years and can make veteran trees of the future, whilst providing habitat for a wide range of wildlife.
What work was done?
A specialist fruit grower oversaw the tree pruning process, and gave instruction to the farmer on how to maintain the trees properly so that their shape and balance can be optimised for the future. Pruning was done in January and February, which is the best season so that the trees can grow well in spring once the warmer weather arrives.
In the second year of the project, small area was then replanted with traditional varieties in the autumn of 2024. This will contribute to carbon sequestration on the farm.
