On the northern edge of Coton village, the off-road busway would cut through a 100-year old orchard of 60 acres. Orchards were once numerous in the area and part of the village’s character, but this one is all that remains of that heritage.

Coton Orchard is the largest traditional orchard in Cambridgeshire and the eighth largest in the country. Undisturbed by ploughing or pesticides for more than a century, and with a mix of fruit trees, meadow, hedgerows, wild scrub and copse, it is home to a rich community of flora and fauna. Orchards such as this are hotspots for biodiversity, and so classed as Priority Habitats.

The off-road scheme would lay a 30-metre width of tarmac and concrete right across the site.  This would remove the section that contains the 100-year old Bramleys. Additionally, the construction process will create its own devastation that will far exceed the footprint of the busway. The habitat would be desecrated and the orchard effectively destroyed.

The GCP claims that they will be able to provide a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) of 10–20% through various planting schemes, on- and off-site.  But experts agree that no amount of new planting will be able to compensate or mitigate the loss of this rich, complex ecosystem. Orchard Expert Steve Oram from the PTES,  advised that "this fragmentation of the site would be tantamount to its destruction and cause biodiversity loss at a landscape scale."

Even if a 60 acre orchard were planted somewhere else (and mitigation measures will be nothing like that), it would take at least 50 years to regain the benefits of all the veteran trees and the undisturbed soil with its fungal networks and carbon stores, and for such a complex ecosystem to be replaced. Moreover, the fact that there is a viable alternative to this off-road scheme means that any BNG calculation is invalid.

Cambridgeshire is the most nature-depleted county in the UK. The destruction of Coton Orchard is a loss it can ill-afford.
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The power of poetry
Wassail! is an illustrated book of poems written in and for Coton Orchard, that explores and celebrates  traditional orchards. For each book sold, 50% goes to the campaign.
Over £1,200 already raised from sales.
Ancient Bramleys and a Champion Tree
Following a visit from The Woodland Trust in 2023, one of the ancient Bramleys gained Champion Tree status. Several of these trees now have Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). The orchard also has the largest number of trees planted as part of the Queen's Green Canopy in Cambridgeshire.
"This is the second largest Bramley Apple that we’ve ever recorded in the whole of Britain and Ireland."
"I am horrified by the proposal to destroy the ancient orchard at Coton. It is hard to exaggerate the importance of this traditional orchard habitat."
Steve Oram, Orchard Biodiversity Officer, People’s Trust for Endangered Species

"The extent of these [traditional orchards], crucial to the preservation of wildlife populations, has dramatically withdrawn, leaving many as isolated postage stamps within a sterile wider world. When an ecosystem collapes, the fragments that remain are often too small or scattered to save; to remain intelligible to the wildlife that inhaibited them” 
Benedict Macdonald and Nick Gates, Orchard
“Coton Orchard has been assessed against the CWS criteria for Traditional Orchards and meets them on all counts. The ageing fruit trees and nature-friendly approach to management have created a haven for wildlife. The site includes some heritage fruit varieties of local significance, as well as a locally important invertebrate fauna.”
Dr Lucy Wilson, Conservation Officer for The Wildlife Trust BCN

County Wildlife Site and biodiversity hotspot

Coton Orchard has been selected as a County Wildlife Site (CWS) . Also known as Local Wildlife Sites, these sites are nominated and overseen by the Wildlife Trusts, are recognised as our best sites for wildlife in the county and are designed to complement the statutory Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The Orchard’s CWS status means that it joins a network of sites across the region that contribute to delivering both regional and national conservation priorities. The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire will continue to work with Coton Orchard, providing advice and helping to ensure that it continues to be developed in ecologically beneficial ways.

Here are some of the species, some nationally rare, recorded in Coton Orchard. We continue to compile data from independent experts, local wildlife groups and our annual Bioblitz, and so the full species lists are a work in progress.

BIRDS
Among the many breeding and overwintering birds recorded in Coton Orchard, are 14 red-listed and 14 amber-listed species. Of these, 8 are in the local Biodiversity Action Plan, including:

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Woodcock, Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, Turtle Dove,  Nightingale
BATS AND OTHER MAMMALS
The orchard is home to a wide range of mammals including muntjac and roe deer, foxes and many small rodent species. At least 9 species of bat have been recorded foraging in the Orchard, including:

Western Barbastelle and Serotine (vulnerable) Nathusius’ Pipistrelle, and Liesler’s (near threatened)
MOTHS
The Orchard is a hotspot for moths. Regular moth trapping has now recorded 300 species (excluding micromoths) including the Nationally Scarce Dark Crimson Underwing, Brinded Groundling, Marbled Clover, Rosy-striped Knot-horn, Southern Apple Moth amd Waste-grass Veneer.
OTHER INVERTEBRATES
Surveys have determined that the site has "an important invertebrate assemblage".  At least 14 nationally scarce species, plus 11 of local significance. Of particular interest are:

Large Fruit Bark Beetle, Shothole Borer Bee, Woodcarving Leaf-cutter Bee, and the Small Heath butterfly which is red-listed as Vulnerable [to extinction].
PLANTS, MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS
To date, 111 species of plant have been recorded in Coton Orchard, along with 45 mosses and liverworts, including several specialist woodland species.

A working orchard

 Coton Orchard has over 2,000 mature fruit trees. Many are veterans, and some of the massive Bramleys (from 1922 planting) are listed on the Ancient Tree Inventory.

Some years ago, The East of England Apple and Orchards Project (EEAOP) identified 45 varieties of apple, including Chiver’s Delight and Barnack Beauty, both varieties of local significance. There were also eight varieties of plum and five pears. As the Orchard has continued to develop as a unique site of horticultural and arboricultural interest, the number of varieties has increased significantly.

 As well an increasing number of varieties, there are thriving scions from a growing number of historic trees, including:  The Isaac Newton Apple Tree, The Cubbington Pear, Mary Brailsford's original Bramley, Roger Deakin's Kazakhstan apple, and a Niedzwetzky’s apple – a wild apple from central Asia and one of the ancestors of our modern domestic varieties. In addition, an Anne Frank Horse Chestnut, and a Sycamore Gap sapling will be planted in 2025.

At Coton Orchard, the heritage and ancient wisdom is combined with the best of modern technology. Seeds from ancient apple ancestors are being cultivated to improve future genetic resilience, and saplings are grafted using centuries-old techniques. But those saplings are nurtured inside a high-tec Polysolar glasshouse, where semi-transparent panels generate clean energy while selectively transmitting the light wavelengths essential for plant growth. 

Meanwhile, pruning is done using the local traditional technique of an open canopy and a short stem, and the orchard is used by the EEAOP for pruning courses.

A very special cider

Coton Orchard is delighted that their ciders, made in collaboration with Blue Barrel  have been shortlisted for the Great British Food Awards. 

Coton Orchard works closely with Blue Barrel Cider to produce high-quality local artisan ciders. Following the success of 'The Cuckoo Returns', 'East to Eden' was launched at The Tate Modern's Fine Cider Salon in London. With a hand-drawn label by Naï Zakharia – a University of Cambridge researcher whose illustration charts the journey of the apple from the Heavenly Tian Shan mountains to English soil – the cider is already attracting the highest accolades.

Both are up for the prestigious award, which will be announced on 27th October.

Two-star Michelin chef Daniel Clifford of Midsummer House said he was inspired by the flavour, the sustainability and the story, and 'East to Eden' is set to feature on the Michelin-starred restaurant's tasting menu in the autumn. 

“It reminded me of the apples I grew up with. This kind of quality produce is gold dust. We should be supporting it, not bulldozing it.”
Daniel Clifford, Midsummer House, Cambridge
Our supporters

The campaign to save Coton Orchard is supported by numerous conservation organisations, including:

Woodland Trust
The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Operation Turtle Dove
The Bat Conservation Trust
Bumblebee Conservation Trust
Butterfly Conservation Trust
People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES)
Badger Trust
The British Bryological Society
East of England Apples & Orchards Project (EEAOP)
Pesticide Action Network UK (PANUK)
@CotonBusway
© Coton Busway Action Group 2023