The 'Orchard' at Downlee Lodge, See Map 2, has been allowed to grow wild and is more realistically shown as a small area of mixed woodland on the Rural Land Register Map of the smallholding. The native trees in the orchard include English Oak, Wild Cherry, Goat Willow.
The sadly neglected fruit trees and bushes are up to twenty years old and include Apple, Pear, Plumb, Cherry, Apricot, Almond, overgrown Raspberry, Blackcurrent, Redcurrent, Whitecurrent and Gooseberry.
The blossom attracts a variety of insects throughout spring. The fruit from these trees and shrubs rarely reach the table but are feasted upon by birds and other wildlife. The Apricot blossom shown in the photographs below is the first to appear and hums with bees and other insects in spring.
Photographs of Fruit Trees and Bushes
Click on the photograph for larger images and captions.
