My interest in local orchards was fired up a couple of years ago because of the community orchard "movement" which is gaining a head of steam (my local group is Conwy Orchard), as well as the whole idea of urban harvests and the use of garden fruit trees as a source of foraged food for groups in the local community (see Leeds UH as an example). Community orchards are proving to be an important means of conserving traditional varieties of fruit, as well as opening up greenspace access to local people. Not withstanding all the cultural ecosystem services supplied, I'm not sure just how much a traditional orchard could be considered a "social forest" outside these kinds of initiatives as the majority of orchards remain in single owner hands, but thought I would just mention that I am about to embark on a survey of traditional orchards as a volunteer for the People's Trust for Endangered Species. They were recruiting volunteers earlier this year, and my survey pack arrived in the post over the weekend. I have been assigned more than 20 sites to visit, describe and assess for Noble chafer habitat. Wish me a little less rain .... the midges in this part of the world have been vicious this year.
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