Any advice on fruit tree that will grow big and tall and quick !

[mooshy]

I basically want to plant 4 trees.
2 in the front garden and 2 in the back.
Main purpose is too provide some privacy, so was wondering if i could go for a friut tree and get some friut or blossom too ?
Want a good height and spread and quick to grow ?
Any advice gratefully received !

Cherry's provide the best blossom. Difficult to stop the birds from eating them all though!

Plum trees provide some decent fruit. I have a Victoria Plum tree and a Jubilee plum. They are self fertile so no need for other plum trees to be close by. Pears and apples often need pollinating partners, but, usually provide a good crop once they have got going. If you were going to have apples and pears have two apples in front, and two pears in the back for example. Any good garden centre should have information on which ones are self fertile or need pollinating partners.

I would probably suggest plums, damsons, greengage, cherries or similar - apples and pears are quite cheap in the supermarkets so get something that's usually expensive to buy off the shelves.

Whichever ones you get - get them on St Julien rootstock which is a vigorous rootstock and so should grow quite tall, reasonably quickly.

Magnolia's dont bear fruit, but are very lovely to look at in spring.

Thanks VVV,
Lots of info there. I agree about the apple and pears.
Think i`ll go and look at some cherry trees and maybe plum or damson-nice jam ?
Would a magnolia be bare in the Winter-or any of the fruit trees either, as i dont want to lose my privacy 6 months a year !

They are all deciduous.

If you want all year round privacy you need to be looking at hedges or evergreens (conifers, laurels etc). You wont find any fruit trees that are evergreen, AFAIK.

this isnt a tree, but I have a kiwi plant which is a climber and it has covered my iron railed steps lovely and very quick. If you ever need a climber

Alternative for almost year-round cover is beech hedging (copper or standard) as beech trees retain their autumn leaves much longer than other deciduous trees.
VVVQV will know I expect...I suspect beech hedging is neither quick nor cheap to establish.
We have a large laurel which grows like topsy, and an exceptionally pretty Irish Yew, which would do well in the front garden provided your children could be trusted not to touch the berries. We have had no problems with training our two (were going to cut it down ) and are so glad we kept it now.