How many fruit trees?

[Scottishnewbie]

Our pigs went to the abbatoir last week and we are left with a well manured and rotovated area approx 8m x 8m.

We have decided to turn it into a mini-orchard and underplant with wild flowers for the bees - hopefully get a couple of hives in there at some point.

So my question is, how many trees (spacing) and best layout please?

Many thanks

ps- am thinking cobnuts, plum, apple, damson, pear......maybe greengage?

[FB.]

Spacing will depend on:

Soil depth and quality.

Rootstock.

The natural vigour of the fruiting variety.

.

The following link may help you to get an idea of spacing:
> Tree size estimator <

I would say, given Scotland's plentiful rainfall, the soil quality is probably best considered to be average or above average.

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Pears really don't like cold and wet. By all means try, but they are extremely difficult to grow organically in most parts of the UK.

Hazels will tolerate really poor and shallow soil, but dislike soils that dry quickly.

Take care with your choice of apple variety. The cold, wet and dull growing seasons "up North" mean that most apple varieties can suffer frost, disease or ripening problems.