Planning and maintaining orchards on healthcare sites: video resources

This page has four short presentations by The Orchard Project, delivered for NHS Forest about orchards on healthcare sites. This is recommended viewing before applying for our fruit trees.

1. Understanding your site and designing orchards on healthcare sites that are productive and provide a habitat for wildlife.

In this presentation Fergus covers what an orchard ecosystem is, both above and below ground, and outlines key features for a thriving orchard including: 

• Fertile well-draining soil 

• Plenty of sun (ideally south facing slope, not shaded or partially shaded) 

• Water source for watering in first 3 years 

• People to care for the trees (watering, weeding, mulching) 

• Services to care for people involved with the orchard (toilets, kitchen and a dry gathering place).

• Protection from extreme weather, browsing by animals, and strimmers. Consider what your trees might be vulnerable to, you may need to consider extra protection.  

• No underground services, or site development, or vehicular access requirements 

• Relationship with local tree surgeon for woodchip delivery. 

We also look at the orchard timeline – time and space, your tree will grow and could live up to 100 years, try to envision what your site could look like in 10, 20, 50 years’ time. You will receive trees which are 2 years old, and your tree will mature to its full size at 7-15 years old.   

Further reading on Orchard Design:

Look into the National Library of Scotland’s OS maps from as far back as the 1830’s & learn what was at your site almost 200 years ago Georeferenced Maps – Map images – National Library of Scotland (nls.uk) Includes England and Wales.

Learn a bit more about Soil testing Permaculture Research: Soil Test Handbook. 

Register for free woodchips from local arborists Free Wood Chips | Free Mulch | Arbtalk Tip Site Directory 

Check your underground services Home – LinesearchbeforeUdig (lsbud.co.uk) 

2. Which trees should you plant? Choosing trees, rootstock, planting options and guards for your site. 

In this next presentation Chris looks at choosing trees, rootstocks planting options and guards or your sites. He covers pollination groups, fertility, looking after bareroot trees and rootstocks. He also covers some considerations of how to choose your fruit variety, you could consider taste, tradition and heritage, flavour, yield and resistance. Our supplier RV Roger, has a lot of information on their website, and you can use their search bar to search for your region in order to find varieties which are traditional to your area.

Further reading on choosing your trees and planting

Fruit tree planting distance guide (an essential reference!) Fruit tree spacing and planting distances (orangepippintrees.co.uk) 

If you are interested in learning more about rootstocks see: A Guide to Fruit Rootstocks – RV Roger Ltd 

Winter pruning: 03 Uk V2 White Beard (youtube.com) 

More about medlars and how to use the fruit Eastgate Larder 

3. All you need to know about tree planting, aftercare and formative pruning for orchards on healthcare sites

This presentation covers how to plant and care for your trees to ensure they thrive. It includes practical advice for planting and aftercare, why and how to prune, and some fruit tree terminology including:

• Heeling in trees temporarily to protect bare roots and avoid damage and drying out.
• Planting- noting the nursery line and the graft union!  
• Watering your trees during the growing season (spring- autumn) to assist establishment – a good weekly soak of 15 – 20 litres per tree is optimal.
• Mulching and adding compost can really help with soil moisture retention.  

Further reading on aftercare

Heeling in bare root trees a how to guide

A recommended fruit picker is: Amazon.co.uk : telescopic fruit picker 

RHS recommendations for feeding fruit trees

4. Ensuring that your trees survive and thrive, pests and disease, and involving the community with orchards on healthcare sites

The final presentation looks at your fruit trees as part of a wider system. The better your trees’ basic needs are being met (through watering, mulching and protection) the more likely they are to be resilient to pests and diseases.

This video covers some of the common pests and diseases you may come across and recommends actions to take against them as well as promoting some preventative measures, i.e. encouraging pest predation through supplementary planting.  

Your orchard will thrive with care; think about the ways you can build a community around it see the NHS Forest Orchard calendar Calendar (nhsforest.org).   

Further reading helping your orchard to thrive

Learn about orchard blossom day events: Orchard Blossom Day | UK Orchard Network  

Remember to label your trees so that future custodians will know what varieties are present: Alitags | Permanent Horticultural Plant Labels, tree tags, tree labels & garden markers

Check out your Local Orchard Network: Regional directories | UK Orchard Network  

The Orchard Project have an interactive map; add your planted or restored orchard: Community Orchards – The Orchard Project 

5. Additional Resources from The Orchard Project:

The Orchard Project Tree Care Calendar

Guide 1: Orchard Design and Plant Choice

Guide 2: Tree Planting and Aftercare

Guide 3: Orchard Wildlife

Guide 4: Pruning

Guide 5: Pests and Diseases

Find out more about our orchards for healthcare sites scheme. All trees are fully funded and free to the NHS or NHS-owned sites.