Memorial Fruits - Preservation and popularisation of traditional orchards in the Lodzkie Region

Nowadays, especially in rural areas, a significant change in the landscape is noticeable. The landscape of the countryside and its surroundings have transformed. The fields occupy a larger area and are missing mid-field trees, once consisting of fruit trees and shrubs. Traditional, multi-species orchards are becoming less and less common in the vicinity of houses. Shifting use of land has a negative impact on biodiversity. The decreasing number of fruit trees in the landscape leads to its impoverishment and limits the food base for pollinating insects in spring. The disappearing traditional orchards are a disappearing habitat for many plant and animal species. It also limits the resources of healthy, unsprayed fruit, which have been grown for generations in the human vicinity.
In order to emphasize the natural importance of traditional orchards and their role for health, the " Memorial Fruits" project was created. The project also aims to show the role of tradition and identity, as well as to reconstruct the disappearing orchards in our region and disseminate knowledge about their importance.
It consists of the purchase of fruit trees of traditional varieties and planting them as small orchards and alleys in the Lodzkie Region. It also includes an inventory of orchards. Moreover, in order to disseminate knowledge in this field, publications and thematic contests have been issued.