The following is a short summary of the habitat type and how to create/enhance it to a "good" condition. For an informed position, please refer to official up-to-date Government guidance or the UK Government's Condition Assessment Sheet.
🔺 IMPORTANT
This habitat should ONLY be selected if there are at least five trees within the parcel.
Synonyms: Nut and Hop Plantations
Description: Orchards with a ground cover that is intensively managed (treated with herbicide and heavily mown). This ground cover usually tends to be Modified grassland. Often there are young tree stock and dwarf varieties and species present.
If you wish to select this habitat on a habitat selection screen, it can be found under Cropland (see guide).
Key Species
Between the bare ground strips controlled by herbicides, species typically include Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne), Dandelion (Taraxacum spp.), Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.), Nettle (Urtica dioica), Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill (Geranium dissectum), Field Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis), Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) and Lesser Burdock (Arctium minus).
Special Notes
The habitat includes Nut and Hop plantations. This habitat is distinct from traditional orchards due to its intensive management practices. Species diversity within the ground cover can be influenced by the frequency and type of herbicide application and mowing.
Assessment Questions
Are there at least five trees present in the area?
Are the trees typical of those found in orchards, bearing fruits, nuts, or hops?
Is the ground cover under the trees intensively managed, indicated by regular mowing and/or herbicide application?
If YES, then it is likely 'Cropland - Intensive orchards'
How to Create / Enhance to a "Good" condition
How to create
Note that there must be at least 5 trees to count as this habitat type.
Can be done in strips or blocks. Note that a competent person should demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge and experience in creating, enhancing and/or managing arable habitats. You may wish to note that advice will be sought from an agricultural land agent.
You should not create this habitat in:
• cool, north facing shaded locations, as most seeds will not germinate
• places with perennial and arable grass weed problems (Source: HM Government)
How to get a "moderate" rating
It is not possible to get a moderate rating for this habitat
How to get a "good" rating
It is not possible to get a good rating for this habitat
Please note that this is a simple guide to help identify the habitat. For a definitive description, please refer to UKHab documentation. Joe's Blooms takes no responsibility for the content of external links.