Biodiversity 2023

Biodiversity is simply the variety of living things. Anything that helps to increase biodiversity will help our local wildlife.  A greater variety of plants means more insects and birds and so on. The Community Orchard is not just about fruit trees – which themselves are a great habitat – but also all the other plants and animals that live there. So - what lives in the orchard?

Every year we carry out a survey of the wild plants found in the orchard and in a typical year there will be something like forty different wild flowers, ten different grasses and eight trees and shrubs. Each of these will provide food such as nectar for butterflies and plants for their caterpillars to eat. These caterpillars will be taken by birds such as bluetits to feed their young and later on the seeds will help the birds to survive winter. The orchard acts as a nature reserve tucked away at the bottom of the Rec.

The Parish Council is very supportive of the work that YCV carries out. The Rec also has other areas that enhance biodiversity – the flower patch behind the pavilion, the spring bulbs that come up along the bank and of course Willow Pond. If you want to know more about Willow Pond and the Orchard then please do have a look at the information board in the Rec. near the pond.

 National Apple Day is on Saturday October 21st and the orchard will be open for visitors. There will be activities and a chance to sample what is grown there.

If you would like to help us then please get in contact : secretary@ycv.org.uk

Bugle   Mallow   Cow Parsley   Cranesbill Willow Herb   Groundsel   Herb Robert   Hawkbit

Speedwell Bryony     Cocksfoot Small Cat’s Tail   Daisy   Buttercup Alder Hawthorn

Meadow Grass Brome   Plantain    Poppy