The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Fruit => Topic started by: Orinlooper on April 19, 2017, 10:06:34 am
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Is there a place where someone could look to buy an orchard in the UK?
Like rightmove but not for property, just land that is already been made into an orchard?
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An interesting question and also begs what you think of in terms of an orchard, how big etc. Traditional orchards don't seem to be planted commercially any more... if you drive around kent there's huge fields of wire-trained cordon pears spaced to allow machinery between the rows for management and picking; nothing like the old days of spaced out full-sized trees, more like a vineyard
Along my journey to this property i did see one in Norfolk.. 4/5 acres of apple and plum trees in conventional planting and there weere many similar properties about. That one was on prime location if memory serves, with a decent house etc circa 450K at the time.
Or you might find part of an old cider orchard being sold off around gloucester/hereford or the west country punting some emails to local rural agents.
Again depends what the plan is. the place in Norfolk was harvesting by the several tonnes and you'ld likely need a joint contract with a supermarket or wholesaler. If it's 'cos you want to start a microbrewery then possibly better to buy in and later plant up your own if the business flies. If you're just after fruit for an externded family then you really don't need to but an orchard - just part of an old back garden.