Paramor Heritage-Variety Orchard in the Usk Valley
Boasting over 250 varieties of apples
The Marcher Apple Network’s very own orchard
Paramor is owned by the Marcher Apple Network and is our main collection on about 2.2 ha (5 acres).
Over 160 standard M25 trees mainly of local heritage varieties are in the orchard, including those detailed in the Welsh Marches Pomona and Apples of the Welsh Marches books.
Another 140 trees in the ‘Nursery’ area are trees grown on semi-dwarfing MM106 which fruit earlier than larger ‘standard’ trees on M25 or M111 rootstocks, meaning we can speed up their identification (or confirmation of identification).
Looking for orchard volunteers!
The orchard offers lots of potential for members and an active volunteer group works there – we are always looking for more:
TREES COME AND GO
Not just a ‘museum’ orchard
A few years ago we removed nearly half the trees in the nursery area and some in the main area as they turned out to be commonly available and from out-of-area.
In place we planted some more trees in the nursery area that have been recently found or others from member orchards that we are still seeking to identify. We also planted some recently-accredited local varieties.
Helping pollinators and wildlife
We are cutting the grass less often with the aim of a year-round meadow to encourage pollinating insects. We prune the standard trees once a year (join the working party!) in mid-summer for slowing growth and reducing risk of disease.
Future Plans
We are considering options of how to manage the orchard in the future including utilising the apples – but the main aim is to have a living gene-bank of heritage varieties from Wales and the Marcher Counties of England.