Dorset Wildlife Trust project: Broad Oak Orchard

As Dorset Wildlife Trust's (DWT) smallest nature reserve, at around 0.2 hectares (half an acre) in size, this orchard remains one of only a few orchards left in the area. It now adds to its notoriety in being the fourth reserve I've visited. 

I know this surrounding area well, though to the best of my knowledge I had never visited the hamlet of Broad Oak just across the river from Sturminster Newton. A few houses make up this hamlet, (not to be confused with Broadoak hamlet near Bridport), at the edge of which can be found the orchard hard by a lane. Since 1997 this has been a community reserve managed by DWT. Knowing this was one of just two orchards on my project list I scarce thought of a target species to encounter, other than apples. However one species that is here is glow worm. 

 

Interestingly the orchard was featured in the Guardian's Country Diary on Armistice day 2003. John Vallins laments in this article the loss of traditional orchards and his quest to find a precious half acre to preserve. Thus found and secured, he continues that 'as a community orchard it is open to anyone from the village who wants a quiet place to sit, an apple to pick, or a job to do, such as pruning or hedge laying'. I may not be from around these parts, yet I entered, and sat with my lunch at a lichen encrusted picnic table. It is diverting to say the least. Quiet too.

The air is clean around here, evidence of which was the picnic table and benches encrusted with foliose lichen. I've never been good at identifying these to species level, but these are possibly common greenshield lichen (F. caperata) or others in the Flavoparmelia genus. It wasn't just the benches that were encrusted, every branch of the labelled apple trees was host to oakmoss lichen (Evernia spp.), yellow wall lichen (Xanthotia parietina), powdered ruffled lichen (Parmotrema perlatum) and many more I failed to register.

For such a small area there was a lot to see, and read. The orchard boasts a small summerhouse within which is contained a lot of information and this lovely piece of descriptive artwork. I picked up a leaflet which highlights 26 different points of interest. Most noted are the fruit trees but also a log pile, grass cuttings pile and a black poplar. The orchard is surrounded by a lain hedge, which I also read were, at various locations around the site, laid in Midland style, Dorset style or Southern style.

Tree 24, was a Belle de Boskoop apple, which is a mid 19th century variety from the Netherlands, and, although it had fallen over still bared fruit. Before leaving the orchard I had to pay my respects.

Lunch over it was time to leave this delightful community orchard, one which for years I've passed close buy but never visited. I should imagine in spring with the blossom, or on a still autumn day with the fruit glowing, it would be stunning. I'd like to add to its many charms that it is easy to imagine being here at night, glass of wine in hand, surrounded by the fluorescent light of the resident glow worm in the grass.