Starting to bear fruit (pun intended)

I started a wee orchard back in 2019. During lockdown I really got stuck and expanded the orchard. The orchard is now made up of about 35 trees which are mostly on semi vigorous roots stock. I have some vigorous trees which I planted at the back as they'll grow the largest. The apple trees are mostly Irish heritage varieties but there are other varieties from around the world planted here too. Eaters, cider apples and cookers.
What started off as with few apple trees soon included pears, plums and damsons as well as a few rows of gooseberry, blackcurrant and raspberry bushes mostly to be a helpful and edible windbreaker.
I planted different varieties of fruit trees to stagger the fruiting season which starts in late July and lasts to December. There is also an existing orchard here and the trees range from 30 – 80 years.

I planted willow as a wind break as I live close to the coast. This along with an existing stone wall helped block the wind and also to bounce heat and sunlight back into the orchard.
I use ducks and hens to keep the grass down under the trees and also to fertilise the orchard. I move them out around September so that any falling fruit doesn't land in poop.

Great satisfaction watching the fruit develop each season and some varieties haven't fruited yet so I'm looking forward to that.