A Somerset orchard in spring

Guest blogger: Martin Thatcher (orchard owner)

Spring is one of those times of year when you want to gather the orchards up and preserve them for ever, the aroma of the blossom, the warmth of the sun (yes, we've had a bit!), the sound of the bees busy at their day-job, all brought together by the sheer beauty of the Somerset countryside.

I've lived here all my life, when we were kids my brother and I used to play in a 300 year old oak tree that still takes pride of place in one of the orchards, though now surrounded by rows of apple trees. That tree is now home to invertebrates, insects, foxes, rabbits and owls.

One of the great joys of my life is to come out into the orchards with my own children and our golden retriever puppy, Myrtle. It's amazing what we see without really trying – the roe deer are regular visitors, we often see hares bounding across the fields; birds of prey, herons, as well as pheasant, fieldfare and thrush – they all love the apples later in the year of course.

We have hives in the corners of our orchards, they're part of orchard life. We’ve also been planting plenty of wildflower seed to encourage the bumblebee population – these furry friends are really efficient pollinators and are able to fly in weather conditions that would normally see the honey bees stay in their hives. 

Would I choose to live anywhere else..? No. What other back garden could possibly live up to the wildlife haven that is our apple orchards?

The Strawberry Line cycle path – runs through our orchards here in Sandford.

BBC Springwatch filmed in these Somerset orchards this year.