Iona Close Orchard

The Orchard

Iona Close Orchard is a fascinating relic of a Victorian garden. Hidden away behind a few mature ash and Norway maple trees are several fine old fruit trees, apples, pears, plums and a mulberry.   Although it has become has become overgrown, it has remained largely undisturbed, and is a wildlife haven.

Old orchards are generally of high conservation value and there is concern that they may disappear. In addition to the trees there are a number of uncommon invertebrates which specialise in feeding on dead wood or sap runs on fruit trees.

One such species found at this site is the red belted clearwing moth. Fruit and nectar also provide food for other foraging insects and birds.

The Orchard is at the southern end of Ladywell Fields and is a designated 'Site of Importance for Nature Conservation' (SINC) and is currently owned jointly by the Borough of Lewisham and by L&Q Housing Association.

Restoration

Basic vegetation management is needed to enable access so that a restoration t is possible.  Some of existing trees are crowded out by others and need to be removed to make space.  The restoration would involve establishing an access path and then the selective removal of some trees and scrub to favour fruit trees.  The project will improve the fruit stock by appropriate additional planting.

Ecology

This old orchard, bounded by Ladywell Fields, Iona Close, Ravensbourne Park Road and the back gardens of Bournville Road is rather overgrown, but retains some fine old fruit trees.

A large part of the site is covered with ash trees but there are two large pedunculate oaks near the western boundary.  Other areas are covered in dense scrub including bramble and elder, There is also an abundance of ivy (Hedera helix) scrambling over the ground and reaching up the branches of trees and a patch of snowberry that is spreading from the north west corner of the site.

Formerly the site has several fruit trees nestling within this vegetation, including fine old specimens of plum, pear and apple and an ancient, gnarled black mulberry. Most of these have now disappeared apart from several old pears.

Recent planting in the orchard has included hawthorn and blackthorn bushes, an apple, plum, fig and  mulberry trees. The current management of the orchard aims to regenerate and manage some of these fruit tree varieties.

Opening times

The site is locked, but the friends and volunteers have regular open and work days. For more information on this, please contact the Friends Group.