Nature And Landscape

Achub Ein Treftadaeth Berllan; Saving Our Orchard Heritage

Our living heritage of Welsh orchards is close to collapse. Once a defining feature of the landscape for over 1,000 years, veteran fruit trees have vanished at an alarming rate, along with once-widespread traditional skills held by a diminishing number of experts. Orchards are vital links to our past, essential cultural and natural heritage, comprising many rare, lost local fruit varieties, essential habitats for endangered species, and spaces for community wellbeing and connections through local food traditions. Achub Ein Treftadaeth Berllan will restore, improve and safeguard heritage orchards across Wales by establishing and supporting a network of 25 publicly accessible, community-led sites. We will focus on those most at risk, widening access and participation through training, volunteer development and events. By safeguarding rare varieties, rebuilding, sharing and embedding heritage skills, and celebrating orchards as assets for diverse communities, the project will secure a sustainable, long-term future for Welsh orchard heritage.