Exploring around the Dormouse Orchard, Shipton Road

The old orchard at the Dormouse on Shipton Road was looking good on a cloudy May bank holiday Monday this week.

But there are also a lot more remnants of the original orchard around to the south and west of the current pub and obvious orchard in front, and this wider exploration is the focus of today's blog post.

The adjacent fields to the left of the road and at the end of the road to the right of the old church at the end of the lane have a number of much older trees.

Tree and blossom pictures were taken May 3rd 2021, (and a couple of video clips taken too) to help in identification and to keep a record of this wider lovely space which was probably part of the old Clifton Hospital / Asylum complex..

Map with Dormouse top right, with the South and Southwest fields marked, and the north west corner above the church is also worth a look. This is an area popular with dog walkers, but there are often brambles and nettles around to catch out the unwary. Trees are described as accessed from the road signed to the Cricket club, and then from the road by the church

South East Area:

Some of the old trees from the South East area:

Near Pavilion cottage and the cricket club there is a fenced ancient apple on it's own to the left as you go through the gate and head south.

(close up of fenced apple tree)

(blossom of fenced apple tree)

South East Area (Boundary hedge):

There are 2 apple trees here to the left of the stile

(First tree to the left of the stile. Top of main trunk now died back, otherwise lower branches look healthy).

(Second tree to the left of the stile)

(Blossom on second tree to the left of the stile. Both these 2 trees look to have similar blossom.)

South West field

Entering from the road by the church, there is a large multi-stemmed pear tree, then following the path east there is a N-S hedgeline/treeline where 4 further apple trees can be found.

5-stemed large pear tree

(blossom had finished, but set fruit can be seen on this pear)

(in the central hedge/tree line in the South West field are a number of old looking apple trees. These 2 are in a scrubby patch south of the Treehouse Apple tree).

(in the central hedge/tree line in the South West field are a number of old looking apple trees These 2 are in a scrubby patch south of the Treehouse Apple tree).

Third tree in the scrubby section south of tree house apple tree.

Blossom on the third tree

North of the Church

And to the North West on the map, near the church is a brick walled field (possible old walled garden?)

Following the path here there is a younger apple tree then a large old apple tree before the path heads left to a style over the wall. An old apple is visible amidst the brambles on the wall by the stile. A further set of pears and /or apples are present on the far wall to the northern edge of this field.

Pictured are some of the trees along the walls