Ben Pike is an orchard consultant and writer. Before his retirement, Ben ran an orchard business and was head gardener on the Sharpham Estate in Devon, where he looked after the walled fruit and vegetable garden as well as two orchards. In his spare time he helped to run Orchard Link, an organisation that supports orchard owners and the preservation of old orchards. He now lives in Canada, where he works with both indoor plants and fruit trees.

A comprehensive, practical book... [to] help you choose your fruit trees and rootstocks, situate your orchard, prune your trees and keep them healthy. It is bursting with well-illustrated guidance, generously given from someone who knows orchards and cares about the wildlife that they can support.

• IntroductionPART ONE: Preparation, planning and plantingThe site of your orchardRootstocksPollination, flowering and fruit developmentChoosing fruit treesPlanning your orchardBuying and planting treesPART TWO: Fruit tree managementCaring for your treesPruning fruit treesProblems of fruit treesPART THREE: The fruitsApplesPearsPlumsCherriesPeaches and nectarinesApricotsOther fruitsPART FOUR: Traditional orchardsRestoring a neglected orchardCommunity orchardsGlossaryAppendicesResources

Ben Pike is an orchard consultant and writer. Before his retirement, Ben ran an orchard business and was head gardener on the Sharpham Estate in Devon, where he looked after the walled fruit and vegetable garden as well as two orchards. In his spare time he helped to run Orchard Link, an organisation that supports orchard owners and the preservation of old orchards. He now lives in Canada, where he works with both indoor plants and fruit trees.

A comprehensive, practical book... [to] help you choose your fruit trees and rootstocks, situate your orchard, prune your trees and keep them healthy. It is bursting with well-illustrated guidance, generously given from someone who knows orchards and cares about the wildlife that they can support.

• IntroductionPART ONE: Preparation, planning and plantingThe site of your orchardRootstocksPollination, flowering and fruit developmentChoosing fruit treesPlanning your orchardBuying and planting treesPART TWO: Fruit tree managementCaring for your treesPruning fruit treesProblems of fruit treesPART THREE: The fruitsApplesPearsPlumsCherriesPeaches and nectarinesApricotsOther fruitsPART FOUR: Traditional orchardsRestoring a neglected orchardCommunity orchardsGlossaryAppendicesResources