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Red Barn Orchard

A 12-acre sculptural heritage orchard in the heart of the Herefordshire countryside. The orchard is made up of nearly 100 heritage varieties on maiden form apple cordons, on M26, MM106 and M116 root stocks set out on 50m trellis runs of 50 trees.

The orchard design accommodates just under 8,000 new apple trees. The design and form emerged out of the client’s desire to have a unique heritage orchard, with a striking design formation visible from the air.  

Date:
2021
Client:
Private
Collaborators:
Frank P Matthews

The scheme balances form and function, providing a design led layout, aesthetically enriching the landscape, while at the same time providing a productive orchard that is easily maintainable. The design geometry was informed by the practicalities of its management and maintenance, allowing for machinery access and smooth tractor turning between alleys.

This spacing led to the stepped star shaped form, with additional alleys infilled to maximise numbers with a wide field margin left for wildlife and biodiversity. The alley design went through several iterations with the team at Frank P Matthews: decreasing post spacing and increasing wires from three to four tiers to allow for the weight of each cordons fruit of around 3.5-5 KG per tree.

Since 1950, around 60% of small traditional orchards in England have disappeared as a result of changes in agricultural practices, market forces, neglect and development. This project goes some way to reinvigorate a new approach to smaller heritage orchards.

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