BBC – Radio 4 – Nature 30/04/2007
Traditional orchards differ from densely planted commercial orchards as they contain older, taller fruit trees, the grass pasture around them is usually grazed by cattle or sheep, the trees are more widely spaced and the orchards are not treated with chemicals or pesticides.
The loss of old orchards has been due to a demand for cheaper fruit imports and the land being used for housing development.
