This action’s aim is that orchards which produce top fruit and permanent bush crops are maintained under organic management.
The purpose of this is to:
- improve soil health
- increase biodiversity
- improve water quality
What you must do
You must:
- comply with the organic standards required by your Defra-licensed organic control body on land entered into this action
- protect the trees from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits, to prevent serious damage
- manage weeds and vegetation around the base of establishing trees
When to do it
You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration.
Where you can do it
You can do this action on land located below the moorland line that’s:
- registered as ‘fully organic’ by a Defra-licensed organic control body
- used to grow top fruit (such as apples, pears and plums) or bush fruit crops (such as gooseberries and redcurrants) as a commercial crop which is not used to produce alcoholic drinks
- registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
- declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover
Rotational or static
This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
Evidence to keep
You must keep a valid organic certificate and schedule for all land entered into this action – this must cover at least the full period of this action’s duration
You must also keep other evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:
- field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
- copies of sales receipts for fruit crops
- photographs and other documentation
You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.
