postmaster @ stejonda wrote:
What's the cheapest way to protect fruiting trees on the allotment?

Cheapest is to stand there waving your arms and shouting "oi, gerroffmyland".
Most realistically effective that is cheapest, I'd say buy the sturdiest net
you can afford in your budget and throw it over.
(we used cheap ones once or twice, and they are ruined by rain and bindweed
by the time we bring them in, no use reusing)