Planning applications in Cherwell, February 2023

Stratton Audley Hall Bicester Road Stratton Audley OX27 9BS

Works: Remove 23 small orchard fruit trees for replanting (5xapple, 5xplum, 3xapricot, 5xcherry, 5xpear) and all stumps ground out 2xfig to be reduced in height by 1m and pruned. Given the larger part of the site's UK BAP designation as a 'traditional orchard', I will outline below the issues with the trees' condition as justification for felling, as well as the replanting scheme which will bring the orchard in line with guidance. In reference to the attached image 'Felling Justification SAHO.pdf': Trees 4, 5, 6 and 7 are the only specimens which existed before the orchard was planted in 1995 and are all visibly in decline. Trees 1 and 9 are Apricot trees which have failed to ever produce fruit. Tree 2 (Apple) has collapsed. Tree 3 (Cherry) produces an insignificantly small crop each year. Trees 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 and 19 (Damson and Plum) have been overwhelmed by their rootstocks and no longer produce their intended fruit. Trees 14 and 15 are in decline. A further five trees are in good condition and are suitable species for a traditional orchard so will be retained. The other fells in this application are outside of the traditional orchard area and are in decline. In reference to the attached image 'Orchard Replant Stratton Hackney', the numbers refer to 2m standards to be replanted, corresponding to the following list: 1 -Conference Pear on Quince A rootstock 2 -Red Williams Pear on Quince A rootstock 3 -Reine Claude d’Oullins Gage 4 -Mirabelle de Nancy Plum 5 -Sunburst Cherry 6 -Stella Cherry 7 -Portugal Quince 8 -Lescovaka Quince 9 -Nottingham Medlar A - Domestic Apple (exact variety TBC closer to the time dependent on availability) This planting scheme is overwhelmingly in line with the UK BAP guidance and the client is open to substituting some Quince/Medlar for more traditional species like Walnut/Cobnut when it comes to finalising. The orchard will have more trees than currently exist there, and at spacings in line with guidance. The orchard is currently and will continue to be subject to low intensity management: no chemical pesticide or herbicide has ever been used on the trees or grassland beneath, and it is cut twice a year as a traditional hay cut. These works will result in a healthily functioning traditional orchard well in line with guidance in terms of species, structure and management.