Cows in the shade of a conservation orchard in Soumagne

Let us tell you this fabulous story of a committed family, of enlightened farmers, of a passionate planter and a conservation orchard. 84 fruit trees were planted in autumn 2023 in the Pays de Herve. Beyond the conservation of heritage, it also involves preserving the region’s landscape. The goal is also to create refuge and food areas for biodiversity. Finally, shade is provided for dairy cows, whose milk is directly used in the production of quality local products.

ORCHARD SUPPORTED BY

FROM A SEED OF AN IDEA TO AN ORCHARD OF 84 TREES …

The initiative comes from the passionate Frédérique and her husband Jean-Didier Michel, who contacted PlantC in 2022 to share with us a very strong ambition in terms of planting!

Tree planting in fields in Belgium for biodiversity and climate. — Jean-Didier and Frédérique’s beehives.

Jean-Didier is a farmer’s son. His father, Philbert, 84, is a retired farmer and co-owner of the property. The family can explain the origin of this orchard project to you!
All generations of this family have planted. Philbert arrived in Ayeneux in 1950. He came from Sart-les-Spa and was about twelve years old. During his youth, fresh out of agricultural school, he grafted trees in the meadows surrounding the farm. Today, only one pear tree remains from these plantings. The others reached the end of their life or were uprooted by storms. Jean-Didier himself, when starting his family, planted some apple and cherry trees.

SYNERGY BETWEEN LANDOWNER AND OCCUPYING FARMER

However, the project does not only concern the Michel family! Indeed, Frédérique and Jean-Didier were able to unite around this project the farmer occupying the plots, Colyn Farm. The latter is located in the heart of the Pays de Herve. Their 120 dairy cows graze for most of the year, allowing them to produce quality dairy products!

Initially, the idea was to plant about fifteen trees. And discussing with the Colyn family, who use the meadows, everyone quickly understood that it was possible and even desirable for them to think bigger: 87 trees to transform the meadows into orchard-meadows, while continuing to produce hay and host cows.

The Colyn family produces butter, yogurts, maquée cheese, and cheese from their cows’ milk on their dairy farm. In the production of Herve Cheese, Colyn Farm is a member of the Marguerite Happy Cow cooperative. This cooperative brings together all stakeholders in the dairy sector with the aim of producing fair cheeses with differentiated quality milk. The Colyn family therefore follows the Marguerite specifications to ensure their milk is of the best possible quality, and in return, we receive a fair premium.

COWS, TREES, AND SHADE

The originality of the project lies primarily in this synergy between the landowner and the occupying farmer. Generally, the situation often encountered is the opposite!

Furthermore, it is important to remember that this project aims at the preservation of the environment, landscape, history, and heritage of the region! Moreover, the orchard project makes perfect sense: with climatic hazards and during periods of intense heat, the well-being of cows and thus milk production are impacted. It is a matter of urgent necessity to protect farm animals.

Finally, the shade will not be provided by just any trees. But rather by trees of old varieties originating from the Pays de Herve and its surroundings, which are threatened with extinction.

A CONSERVATION ORCHARD, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Since so many trees are being planted, it is worthwhile to include a whole series of varieties that have become rare on the Herve plateau. Contributing to diversity and opening up possibilities for future generations.

The idea originated from expert planter Sébastien Pirotte, renowned in the region, who carried out the planting. The orchard will partially consist of “conservation” varieties.

The conservation function of an orchard means that the varieties planted within it are not all varieties sold in nurseries. The varieties will include many from the Pays de Herve or its surroundings, which are gradually disappearing as the oldest fruit trees in the landscape vanish.

There were over 1,300 known apple varieties in Wallonia. However, only 60 to 70 varieties are available in nurseries. This number is already remarkable but obviously does not allow for the preservation of all Walloon fruit heritage.
Among all these varieties, many are currently being “collected” and saved in the conservation orchard of the Gembloux Agricultural Research Centre, or in the too-rare other private conservation orchards. However, even with these initiatives, all the varieties in question are far from being saved.

The idea of a “conservation” orchard is therefore to allow some of these varieties to regain their place in situ in our landscapes. Future generations will thus be able to access them and, why not, find a new use for them. Regardless of whether the fruits produced are not used, this type of orchard helps to preserve the region’s fruit genetic heritage. Thus, we enable future generations to draw upon this resource for the evolving needs of the fruit industry.

A PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE GENERATION TO THE RHYTHM OF THE ORCHARD

Every summer and autumn is punctuated by harvests, cakes, compotes, juices, and Frédérique and Jean-Didier wish for their five children to continue this tradition.
“Even without being farmers, we remain very attached to this place, to these meadows and the cows they continue to host” and the family wants to demonstrate that it is possible to keep the orchard alive for a long time while making it as resilient as possible. A green haven near major roads and housing estates, Frédérique and Jean-Didier want to preserve and strengthen the biodiversity that inhabits this place.