At least one new high-trunk orchard in every other village in Goričko

Between November 2020 and March 2021 we carried out the action of planting 1200 new high-trunk fruit trees. The aim of this nature conservation measure was to establish 20 ha of new high-trunk meadow orchards that will in a few decades provide a habitat for the Eurasian scops owl, hoopoe and other birds that nest in tree cavities. The interest of landowners has been exceptional.


Planting was carried out by experts  S. Dešnik

Every other village in Goričko is richer for at least one new high-trunk orchard
Planting started at the end of November 2020 and was completed on March 31st 2021. Fortunately, the weather was appropriate during this period as planting conditions were suitable for the majority of the winter. New high-trunk orchards were planted in all 11 municipalities within Goričko Nature park and in 54 out of 86 villages within the Natura 2000 site Goričko that were eligible for this action. Every other village in Goričko is therefore now richer for at least one new high-trunk orchard.


Number of planted high-trunk trees planted within the area of municipalities 

The high-trunk tree saplings are grafted on seedlings and have an expected size more than 10 m in height. Therefore during planting the rule of sufficient distance between every tree was taken into account.

The minimum number of tree sapling received by beneficiary was 5 and the maximum was 29 trees. The number was determined by the size of the available planting area by taking into account the appropriate distance between every tree 10 by 10 m. The landowners and employees of the Goričko Nature Park public institute marked the planting spots together. A quarter of landowners received 5 trees, while only 8 % of beneficiaries got more than 20 trees. Three quarters of them got a maximum of 11 trees.

The new planted fruit trees belong to 36 different high-trunk varieties of apples. Among them were varieties such as Crown Prince Rudolf, Belle de Boskoop, London pippin, golden pearmain, gravenstein, ananas reinette and Coxs orange pippin.

The landowners have signed a contract agreeing not to remove the orchard and to maintain it properly by mowing and pruning.