To want to cry for the orchard

[FreyaFromTheFens]

Sounds dramatic I know but it seems such a waste of healthy trees that are just about to produce fruit.

We live very rurally and are surrounded by farmland that used to included 5 mature orchards. The farm was sold a few years ago and within weeks the JCB’s were in tearing down all of the orchards bar one pear tree one.

What used to be a lovely area to walk the dogs where you would see dear, foxes, hares and unlimited birds and bees is now open arable land as far as the eye can see. I realise that farmers are struggling especially now that fruit pickers are hard to come by but 2 days ago the diggers were back and the last orchard is being ripped out

Feeling upset at the loss of habitat for so much wildlife as a result of this and although I understand farming and how it has to evolve to make money it seems wrong. I realise how petty this is in the grand scheme but WIBU to chain myself to the JCB?

How awful. I would be gutted as well. Surely fruit trees are such an important source of food as well as being vital for wildlife?
It seems really short sighted. But I’m not an expert on such things.. maybe the trees were sick?

That would be so upsetting to watch

No not diseased sadly just no longer a money maker. Makes sense to produce more of our own fruit here rather than import more so then ever I would have thought but I’m guessing with no one to pick the fruit the decision was made

I’d have been happy to help pick but am furloughed so don’t think I can?

It's very sad. We've just bought a house with a bit of land, at least about 4 acres of it are an old apple orchard (trees are a bit sad as haven't been cared for lately) and then a new field of fruit and nut trees, probably 20 different kinds of trees over at least 2 acres in that field, which the current owners put a lot of love and money into planting in the past couple years. It's absolutely a dream.

The sellers showed us around and were so pleased when we said how wonderful the trees were. The estate agent's first question was, 'how much would it cost you to knock all those down?!' Thankfully, we are going to love them now and I'm trying to figure out how not to kill them (because I have a tendency to kill plants...)

You can do other work while you are furloughed you just can’t work for the employer that has furloughed you.

@mindutopia that sounds wonderful! Give them a hard prune back/pollard after they’ve produced this year and it will recover well - enjoy your lovely new home

That sounds beautiful Mindutopia, lucky you :)