"Duncan Heenan" wrote in message
...
I am about to start planting phase 2 of my orchard (non-commercial) which I
am developing, having just finished terracing it with retaining walls. I
would appreciate any suggestions on what to plant. I am looking for
something a little 'different', but low maintenance (so no soft fruit).
Phase 1 has : Black Mulberry, Cherry, Pears (conference & Williams),
Apples( Cox Orange Pippin, Bramley, Granny Smith, George Cave, Deacons
Millennium), Plums (Victoria, Purple Pershore, Damson), Greengages
(Cambridge Gage, Laxton's superb), a peach & a nectarine. On another wall
I have 7 grape vines.
My woods already have walnut, hazel & Kent cob in among a mixture of
native tress dominated by sycamore, beech and oak. There is a badger set
in the woods (they regularly vandalise my lawn), red squirrels and a large
variety of birds, including a number of resident woodpeckers. Moles thrive
also.
Phase 2 is smaller, about 30metres by 7 metres, but a sun trap - very
sheltered with a south facing back wall. It is on the south of the Isle of
Wight, about 1/2 mile from the sea with a mild climate and frosts are rare
and moderate. The soil is reasonably moist but well drained, not rich, and
is a mixture of clay and sandstone, and I shall have little chance of
improving it much.
I have already decided to have some apricot fans on the back wall, and a
couple of olive trees, but now I've run out of ideas. Ideas please! Over
to you.
Duncan



Sounds like you've got most ... if not all of it covered by way of fruits.
How about some herbs ... like Rosemary ... a bay tree maybe ... corriander
.... to hopefully self seed .. maybe some plants to attract the pollinating
insects .. foxgloves amongst your woodland area etc ...