Of Rabbits and Fruit Trees

As I have mentioned elsewhere I am in the process of establishing a small orchard in our paddock at the back of the house.  I've wanted an orchard of my own for many years but I don't seem to have had the time or a good site or both, until now.  The paddock has a good slope, it's well sheltered and gets good sunlight exposure.  Apart from three ash trees large ash trees in the neighbours paddock I think the site is excellent for my purpose.  I have reseeded the paddock and the new grass has established well.  We have bought and planted eighteen fruit trees so far, these are six plums, two pears, two cherries and eight apples.  Yes I know we stand very little chance of ever getting a cherry but Rosemary likes the blossom and I don't really begrudge the birds a little food, providing they don't touch the plums.  For anyone who's interested the trees are as follows.

Plums:- one Greengage, one Marjorie's Seedling, one Opal, one Avalon and two Victoria.

Apples:- two Bramley's Seedling, one Spartan, one Ellison's Orange, one Discovery one Braeburn one Sunset and one James Grieve.

Pears:- one Doyenne Du Comice and one Williams.

Cherries :- one Sunburst and one Stella.

Most of the trees came from Reighton Nursery near Hunmanby, they have a large selection of pot grown trees which are very reasonably priced.  They were planted in good conditions and I saw no reason why they shouldn't establish well in the coming spring.  Then came the rabbits!  I had put guards each tree but these rabbits from hell used the guards as a platform to reach higher up the young trees and chew off the bark.  I bought higher guards and have managed to fend them off all but the lowest branches.  But in what can only be a fit of spite these evil creatures have almost stripped the bark from round a small spruce tree.  A spruce tree!  A tree that must taste terrible.  A tree that they have left alone until this point.  It's not as if there isn't a good supply of fresh grass or plenty of shrubs in the hedge.  The only conclusion I can draw is that these seemingly innocent friendly looking creatures are actually completely evil. Perhaps I should eat the rabbits, I bet they haven't thought of that!