UK farmers ripping up unaffordable orchards, NFU president says

Experts call for schemes to help fruit growers keep trees and preserve habitats vital for biodiversity

Farmers are ripping up orchards because they are unable to afford to keep them, the president of the National Farmers' Union (NFU) has said, in a major blow for biodiversity.

The increasing cost of labour and spiralling energy costs have meant fruit growers are removing trees from their land, Minette Batters said.