Devon Ancient Tree Forum

John Bickley, the new owner of Creedy Park helps Jill Butler and Keith Alexander measure one of the ancient oaks
Two ancient oak pollards at Creedy Park 

Saturday 11th December 2010 at 9.30 am
Devon ATF Festive Field Trip to Sharpham Estate

Sharpham Estate
Ashprington
Totnes
Devon, TQ9 7UT.

The morning will be spent exploring the landscape and looking at the many notable trees and hearing about some of the recent work being undertaken to join up the landscape at Sharpham. Following the visit the group are invited for a festive drink at the Watermans Arms in Ashprington (conveniently near by).

Directions to Sharpham Estate:
By car:
Sharpham Estate is three miles outside Totnes on the edge of Ashprington village. From the A38/Devon Expressway take the Totnes/Buckfastleigh exit. On arriving in Totnes, at the first traffic lights, turn right onto the A381 towards Kingsbridge. Half a mile outside Totnes turn left to Ashprington (about two miles). On reaching the village turn left up the hill and onto the Sharpham Estate. Follow signs to the front of Sharpham House. Please note and observe the 20mph speed limit through Ashprington village and on the estate.

Directions to the Waterman's Arms, Ashprington.
By Car:
Leaving Ashprington head towards Totnes and there is a brown sign for The Waterman's Arms. Stay on the lane for about 2 and a half miles and you come to a crossroads follow the signs to Ashprington when you get to the memorial, which is a stone cross, turn right and keep on through village, always heading downhill. Keep going downhill and we are over the bridge at the bottom.

Further information flyer  pdf (105KB)

Saturday 1st August 2009
Devon Summer ATF Field Trip
Poltimore, nr Exeter   10.00 for 10.30 start

Dear ATF member,
You are invited to the next Field Visit for the group.This time we are going to pay a visit to Poltimore, nr Exeter

The event is going to be on Saturday 1st August, so please feel free to bring with you any family or friends who may be interested in seeing and hearing about the trees, and having a look at the fascinating old house as well. Meet at the entrance 10am for a 10.30 start to be finished around 4pm.

We have been offered a guided walk by one of the trustees, and as it is one of their work-days the house will be open as well. The site is an ancient park, with a few curiosities mixed in for added interest, including Monkey Puzzles and Luckham Oaks.

As always, please bring sturdy footwear, clothing suitable for the British weather and a picnic lunch.

For directions please refer to the Poltimore website at: www.poltimore.org/index.php/location

Ancient Tree Forum Group
Report to January 2009 ATF Board Meeting

Admin matters
• Leslie Woodhead resigned as Devon ATF Coordinator in the autumn;
• Jonathan Burgess of the Woodland Trust has agreed to take over; DATF Committee are very pleased to welcome him.

Field meetings:
• Summer, June 25, an evening visit to experience the ancient sweet chestnut avenues at New House Farm, Mamhead;
• Autumn, Nov 13, a fungus foray in and around the ancient deer park of Shute, led by Michael Jordan; the identity of the Phellinus on the King John Oak remains unclear.

Indoor meetings:
• An indoor meeting is planned at The Ley Arms, Kenn in February – date to be arranged;
• Possible site visits for 2009 under consideration at Ugbrooke, Poltimore and Branscombe.

Devon Provisional Inventory of parkland and Wood Pasture Sites
• We still aim to place a pdf of the inventory document on the ATF website but have made no progress with getting a copy of the official document from Devon County Council.

Keith Alexander, 6 January 2009

We have lined up a great visit for you: A Fungal Foray lead by the renown expert Michael Jordan at Shute Park.

Michael will be leading the fungus foray but Phil Wilson (who is familiar with the layout of the site) is to be the local guide. The idea is to walk up from Pennyhayes across fields known for their waxcaps and into Woodend Park (the old Shute Deer Park). This is the oldest extant park in Devon - dating back at least to about 1250 - and is famous for its ancient oaks (more than 100) as well as its epiphytic lichens and deadwood beetles. So we can expect a very interesting day.

We will meet at Pennyhayes Farm (SY241970) at 10 for a 10.30 start. There is limited parking at the farm but overflow parking is at Easy Bridge Cross, 200m to the south. Please try to car share where possible.

Bring a packed lunch and be prepared for a 4pm finish.

To book visit the ATF events page and book on line

10 July 2007 Devon ATF visit to Widdon Down Deer Park, Castle Drogo details

Devon ATF 2006 Report/future meetings pdf (20KB)

I attach notes from our Visit to Escot in August pdf (33KB)

13 November 2008

Devon ATF Visit to Shute Park
'A Fungal Foray'
Pennyhayes Farm (SY241970
 

22 November 2006 Devon ATF visit to Dartmoor

I would like to invite you to the next ATF event, which will be on Dartmoor.  We will spend the morning looking at how the National Trust manage this historic landscape which has several very prominent ancient trees which are beginning to shed limbs. Brian Beasley, DNP tree officer, and Gus Fergusson, National Trust, will be leading the site visit. Please bring a packed lunch as there is no restaurant on site.

In the afternoon, James Mason from the Woodland Trust will take us up the Bovey Valley to look at ancient trees in woodland and PAWS woodland restoration work being carried out here. The afternoon will involve strenuous walking over rough terrain and there will be limited parking, so we may need to share vehicles.

Wednesday 22nd November 10.00am for 10.30am

Please let me know if you would like to come or book via the ATF website

Kate Tobin has 114 contacts on our mailing list, including contacts for the CLA, NFU, and local authority tree officers, who then mail the information on to their members. Additions to the mailing list are being received regularly. Information is sent out electronically and there are only two people who cannot receive it in this format.

Further Meetings and Venues pdf (44KB)

The second event at Castle Hill in December was also very successful.

The first meeting of the Devon ATF was a resounding success, being fully booked within 2 weeks. 70 people attended this inaugural meeting in mid October at Shobrooke Park in Shobrooke and Creedy Park in Sandford where we looked at some ancient oaks and sweet chestnuts. The feedback from this event was very enthusiastic and there were lots of suggestions for further venues for events. -Highlights