Keeping the bugs at bay - 1st year orchard

[buildersmate]

In the winter I planted a small orchard of 12 bare-rooted trees - mixed apples, pears, plums and cherries. Some are maidens, the rest of two-year olds.
Because the trees came from a reputable nursery, I dispensed with grease bands on planting, believing that the wingless moths that climb up to lay eggs would not show on such new trees (planted mid-February).
That is not the case - there are only about 30 breaking buds per tree in total and I removed about 40 voracious small caterpillars by hand this morning. At this rate there'll be nothing left in a fortnight.
I did find ladybirds (4) but the small birds don't seem to have identified the potential food-source.
I'm reluctant to use chemicals sprays because of wildlife and because the trees are so immature. Any ideas?

[rowanwitch]

Probably too late for this year but to be honest I wouldn't want to crop first year I'd be picking off the fruitlets anyway... let the trees establish properly and band them next autumn

[buildersmate]

Thanks for the response. I have picked off the fruitlets, RW, that is not the issue. The bugs are devouring the leaf buds as they open.

[rowanwitch]

if they are not too tall spray with a broad spectrum insecticide and because there may be some damage to the tree a dilute spray of anti fungal a week later isn't a bad idea

[buildersmate]

OK, thanks, much appreciated. Just learning about the finer points of horticulture myself. I thought you'd know about these things.