RYEDALE farmers are being urged to investigate the idea of developing orchards on their land.

The call has come from the North Yorkshire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) in its latest newsletter.

Philip Lyth, head farm conservation adviser in the county, says a recent event focusing on fruit orchards stimulated interest.

"We are keen to investigate the opportunity for marketing fruit from farm orchards to support the sustainable management of farms," said Mr Lyth.

"We have a contact who is interested in buying apples for juice extraction from farms in North Yorkshire. It is likely that this may involve farmers in picking and boxing the fruit and then receiving payment, based on the quantity and quality, on collection of the fruit from the farms."

FWAG is also encouraging farmers and landowners to grow another sort of tree. It's the black poplar, a species rarely found in North Yorkshire.

Christopher Lowe, of Hutton Rudby, who is working with FWAG to identify existing species and to see more planted, says: "The tree is almost certainly native, but an uncommon sight in our countryside. Only 7,000-8,000 are known to exist throughout Britain, mostly in douthern England."

The Hambleton area has ideal habitats for black poplar. It prefers the moist soil and open environment of broad, low-lying flood plains, says Mr Lowe. The species has now been adopted as one of the priorities in the Hambleton local biodiversity action plan.

Andrew Corner, 36, who farms near Easingwold, has been elected the new chairman of FWAG.

He farms 150 acres and is involved with the DEFRA Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

The benefits, he says, have included enhancing wildlife - a recent RSPB study identified 44 different bird species on his farm.

In addition, after carrying out fencing and gate-making for stewardship work on his own farm, Andrew has now developed it into a contract business.

The new vice-chairman of the group is Mark Exelby of Grewelthorpe.

Updated: 11:05 Wednesday, February 12, 2003