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March2013
Ancient Tree Hunt Newsletter
Issue No. 16 |
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The Ancient Tree Hunt (ATH) - Latest news
for Verifiers, Recorders and Partner Organisations.
www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk
Inside this issue: pdf (1230.69KB)1: Tree of the Month
1: New Book
2: Cree Valley
2: Fun in Fife
3:Radnorshire pollards
4: Ancients at Burghley
4: Cornish Event |
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March2013
Mall Galleries
London
Press Release |
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The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) is using their annual
exhibition to highlight the plight of Britain’s woodlands with the special
exhibition Trees & Landscape.
With Ash dieback threatening 80 million ash trees and Government plans to
sell off our public woodlands, the RI’s exhibition is a celebration of the
dwindling trees.
Some of the finest watercolour painters working today have gone out into the
woods to capture the dappled light of sun shining through leaves before it
is too late. |
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March2013
New Book
Ancient and other veteran trees: further guidance on management
David Lonsdale
Editor
Front cover courtesy of
Rob McBride thetreehunter.com |
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The Ancient Tree Forum is delighted to announce the publication of its
new handbook:
'Ancient and other veteran trees: further guidance on management' -
David Lonsdale (Editor).
This 212 page handbook from the Ancient Tree Forum brings together the
collective wisdom on the management of ancient and veteran trees for the
benefit of owners, advisers and practitioners. It is a new, updated standard
for the care and management of ancient and other veteran trees, which will
serve those who own and manage old trees for decades to come. The book
recognises that, alongside the appreciation of old trees, there are
responsibilities for their continuity, protection and care.
Order your copy now at £30 from
The Tree Council |
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Februar 2013
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Tree Watch
Issue 16 February 2013
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Welcome to the February issue of Tree Watch. As
I write this it’s gently snowing, but the daffodil bulbs are coming up and
even flowering in some places, so spring is on its way. Toads will be
migrating to their breeding ponds soon.
Do look out for them and let me know if you see any crossing the road. As
the warmer weather arrives our veteran tree surveyors will no doubt be out
again to record more veteran trees for our database. Several more parishes
are now nearing the completion of their surveys.
February issue pdf (3200.34KB) |
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February 2013
New Book
Ancient Woodland
History, Industry
Arts and Crafts
Professor Ian D Rotherham |
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Though most of us
will have enjoyed strolling through beautiful
British woodlands, we might not be aware of the ancient-and often
complex-origins of our surroundings. From medieval times, woodlands
were carefully managed commodities with hotly contested resources:
conflicting demands from landowners, the Crown, the peasantry and local and
national wood-based industries have all left their marks on today's
woodland. Ian D. Rotherham here explains the various uses of British woods
and their industries, such as coppicing, charcoal-burning, basket- making
and bodging, and helps the reader to seek out the clues to their woodland's
past.
Ian D Rotherham, ecologist and landscape historian, is Professor of
Environmental Geography and Reader in Tourism and Environmental Change at
Sheffield Hallam University. An international authority on cultural
and historical aspects of landscapes, especially peat bogs and peatlands, he
also writes and broadcasts on environmental issues.
Flyer
pdf (735.86KB)
£6.99 available March 2013 ISBN 9780747811657
www.shirebooks.co.uk |
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January 2013
Ancient Tre(e-News) – the newsletter of
The Ancient Tree Forum
Issue No 15 |
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Welcome to the
latest issue of the E-newsletter of the Ancient Tree Forum pdf
(605.98KB). This is intended as an occasional publication disseminating
information, as a Forum should. It is being sent initially to those who have
registered their email address on our website. Please forward to anyone you
think might be interested. Very much more information is to be found on our
website at:
www.ancient-tree-forum.org.uk |
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December 2012
Cheshire Woodland
Aboricultural Consultancy
Newsletter
Issue 1
The Future of Britain's Trees
Ashes to Ashes? |
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With sightings increasing on a daily basis
throughout the UK, it’s important that tree owners know a little about the
disease, which it has been said, threatens Britains's Ash tree population.
Chalara fraxinea, commonly known as ‘Ash Dieback’, is dieback of leaves and
shoots and the death of trees.
Click
here for further interesting articles such as ........'Henry VIII’s
Archers Grew Like Trees' and much more pdf (565.51KB) |
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November 2012
Major Exhibition: Trees in the Landscape
by
Alan Burgess
Landscape Painter
Boxfield Gallery, Stevenage
Arts and Leisure Centre Lytton Road
Stevenage SG1 1LZ.
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23rd November 2012 - 06 January 2013 open
daily 9am - 10 pm.
This exhibition includes a new series of paintings based on the oak trees in
Hatfield House Park.
Alan Burgess has held numerous one-person exhibitions of his paintings and
contributed to many mixed exhibitions. His work is in private collections in
nine countries and in public collections in this country.
For a recent major painting project see
Great British Trees
For a current painting project see
The Intelligence of Trees
View Gallery Page |
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November 2012
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Tree Watch
Issue 15 November 2012
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Welcome to the November issue of Tree Watch.
This month we are enjoying some vibrant autumn colours and appreciating just
how much trees contribute to our visual environment. This year it’s the
field maples that look particular vivid in this part of the world. In her
new column on Tree Science, Fee Young describes colour change and leaf fall
– see page 10. The winter landscape can be just as attractive – or more so –
than the summer one as this photo demonstrates. It shows two English oaks (Quercus
robur) in Arborfield: MRN 2693 with MRN 2692 behind it; (girths 4.87m and
3.65m respectively). The environment would be so much poorer without these
trees.
Read full issue pdf (1439.40KB) |
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November 2012
Herefordshire Parklands Project
newsletter 4 |
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This month's issue covers:
Herefordshire’s Parklands Uncovered
Old Parklands Uncovered – Devereux Park Survey
Project visit to Knepp Castle
Project visit to Piercefield Park
New Resources
Forthcoming Surveys, Events and Training Dates
Download newsletter pdf (1048KB) |
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November 2012
Chalara fraxinea ATF response to consultation on ban |
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The Ancient Tree Forum (ATF) is a charity
operated solely by volunteers which has pioneered the conservation of
ancient and other veteran trees and is the main UK organisation concerned
solely with their conservation. The ATF seeks to secure the long-term future
of ancient trees through advocacy of no further avoidable loss of ancient
trees, good management of ancient trees, the development of a succession of
future ancient trees, and seeking to raise awareness and understanding of
the value and importance of ancient trees.
Ancient trees and their younger successors in late maturity are an
irreplaceable and already extremely vulnerable part of the UK's natural and
historic environment. We have grave concerns relating to the efficacy of
current biosecurity measures which are increasing threats to them and that
there is inadequate recognition of their unique contribution to
distinctiveness of place, landscape, heritage, culture and biodiversity and
therefore what is at risk and what we stand to lose.
ATF Response pdf (287.44KB)
UK map of Ash Trees of
Special Interest pdf (791KB) |
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October 2012
Trees, people and the built environment
PDFs of each individual paper from the ICF Urban Trees Research Conference
13-14 April 2011
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The conference proceedings for ‘Trees, People
and the Built Environment’, held last year in Birmingham, have now been
published by the Forestry Commission.
The conference proceedings run to 260 pages and contain some 25 papers from
expert practitioners and research scientists from around the world. The
topics featured cover many different aspects of urban trees, urban forestry
and urban greening.
The full proceedings and the individual papers are free and downloadable at
www.forestry.gov.uk
Printed copies of the conference proceedings can now be purchased, in A4
size 250 pages in full colour
from:
www.lulu.com |
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September 2012
5th Old Trees Photography Contest
Old Trees’ Friends/Zuhaitz Zaharren Lagunak Association |
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The Old Trees’ Friends/Zuhaitz Zaharren Lagunak
Association is organising the 5th Photography Contest on Old Trees.
Through this contest we hope to encourage and boost careful observation,
curiosity, fondness and respect towards old trees as well as the animals and
plants that live in them, and furthermore, to get to know traditions and
habits that surround them.
We will select 12 pictures which will configure our 2013 calendar, and the
benefits from its sales will go towards two main objectives: to spread the
natural values of old trees and to promote the association.
On this occasion, we open this contest to international participation from
France, Great Britain and Germany.
Details of how to enter pdf (161.78KB)
For further information on our association, please visit
www.arbolesviejos.org
and also:
http://www.facebook.com/arboles.viejos |
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September 2012
Ancient Trees
Trees that live for 1000 years2nd Edition
by
Edward Parker and Anna Lewington
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Ancient Trees (second edition) by Edward Parker and Anna Lewington.
Readers can expect to be taken on a journey across the world from Chile to
South Korea and from Mexico to Lebanon where they will be able to read
about, and enjoy images of, some of the world’s greatest trees both in terms
of size and age.
Each chapter highlights a tree or group of trees that have individuals over
1,000 years old, and then focuses in on the botany, ecology, cultural and
religious significance. The authors tease out fascinating facts and stories,
such as the legend associated with the 'Tree of a Hundred Horses' in Sicily,
the origin myths of the ancient trees in Amazonian Indian culture and the
search for wild populations of Ginkgo biloba trees with individuals over
3,000 years old.
Published by Batsford in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The book is £20 and is available from Edward Parker if anybody would like a
signed copy www.edwardparker.com
Also
Kew's online shop. It is already at Waterstones, Amazon etc. |
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September 2012
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Tree Watch
Issue 14 August 2012
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Welcome to the August issue of Tree Watch.
There is a lot to report this time. We had a very nice boost to our funds
when we won the first prize of £100 in a survey draw organised by the
Wokingham Borough Voluntary Sector Forum and we were delighted to receive a
letter of appreciation from Brian Muelaner, Chairman of the Ancient Tree
Forum, in which he says “I have been asked to write to you on behalf of the
Ancient Tree Forum to commend you all on your stunning work in recording the
notable trees within Wokingham District, telling their stories and raising
their profile.” This letter was circulated to all members and is on the
Yahoo site.
Our veteran tree survey continues to go from strength to strength. We have
recruited and trained some new surveyors and we’ve added over 200 trees to
our database since May. Perhaps spurred on by the completion of the
Wokingham Town survey, other parishes are
keen to complete their surveys too.
More.... pdf (1591KB) |
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September 2012
Ancient Tree (e-News)
The Newletter of the Ancient Tree Forum
No 14 September 2012 |
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Welcome to the latest issue of the E-Newsletter
of the Ancient Tree Forum - a bumper issue as we have effectively run
two editions into one.
Read here pdf (1235KB) |
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August 2012
Partnership case study:
Bodfach Estate, Powys
A tree planting partnership to put the heart back into an historic landscape |
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The Bodfach estate, on the outskirts of
Llanfyllin, dates back to 1160 when it was inherited by Einion Efell from
his father Madoc ap Meredydd, Prince of Powys. Simon and Maggie Baynes have
owned Bodfach since 2007, which now consists of 114 acres of gardens, woods
and parkland. The Woodland Trust is working with the owners to establish new
trees as part of an exciting project to restore the character of this
ancient royal landscape.
Read case study pdf (410KB) |
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August 2012
Press Release – for Woodland and Nature Conservancy Interest
forthcoming book
1st August 2012
‘The God Tree’
by Janis Fry, researched with Allen Meredith
published by Capall Bann
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‘The
God Tree’ will be welcomed by anyone interested in ancient trees and
their history and origins. This book delves into the origin of the Tree of
Life, long thought to be purely symbolic. It develops the interest in
ancient Yews in Wales begun in Janis Fry’s previous book published by Capall
Bann, ‘Warriors at the Edge of Time’, and also the rediscovery of the Tree
of Life in ‘The Sacred Yew’ by Anand Chetan and Diana Brueton from the work
of Allen Meredith.
‘The God Tree’ reinstates the importance of the legendary World Tree or Tree
of Life in the past history of most cultures. The author and researcher have
discovered through Egyptian, Sumerian, Babylonian and other Mesopotamian
cultures, a living tree, the same tree which was the subject of the story of
Adam and Eve, found in the book of Genesis. Connections have been made
concerning this tree with many early Saints and the planting of trees on
sacred sites. However this is only part of the story. Recent scientific work
through DNA is establishing the identity of these trees and through this,
the possibility of tracing their origin. Today we know this tree as the Yew
tree but the research of ‘The God Tree’ focuses on a special Yew tree.
full press release
pdf (193.63KB) |
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August 2012
Photographing Trees
New Book
by Edward Parker
© The Board of Trustees of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Kew Publishing
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This new book by renowned wildlife photographer
Edward Parker is suitable for all photographers regardless of equipment and
experience. This inspiring yet simple guide shows you how to get the very
best from your camera whether it is a point-and-shoot compact or a top of
the range DSLR.
Easily accessible book written by renowned wildlife photographer Edward
Parker, full of tips and instructions on how to take great photographs
• 150 stunning photographs of trees from around the world illustrate the
skills and techniques described
• Parker gives tips on the different ways of photographing trees, easy ways
of improving your photographs, planning ahead and using the four seasons to
your advantage, and basic and advanced advice on camera technique
• Includes ‘expert tips’ to help get great photos
• The skills of photography are largely transferable so the techniques
highlighted in this book will have a broad interest, with trees acting as a
vehicle for learning how to take much better photographs.
Advance
information Sheet pdf (14.65KB) |
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July 2012
ATF secures Leonardo da Vinci funding
for international project
Press release
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ATF and Leonardo da Vinci funding (VETree
project)
VETree is the exciting new project of which the ATF is a partner, together
with like minded organisations in Spain, Sweden, Belgium and Romania. The
aim is to devise and deliver training courses on veteran tree management at
a basic level and also to teach more experienced people to deliver the basic
level training. Teaching material will be provided via the VETree website
(soon to be on line) and a video. The ATF has taken on a part time member of
staff (Helen Read) to deliver this two year project and initial activity
includes evaluating what type of training is most needed in the UK. If you
have any comments on: Who the key target audiences for training should be;
what the key messages should be or what we should be including in the video
please let Helen know. She would also love to hear from you if you have
received a grant for veteran tree management – where did it come from and
what was it for? Contact Helen on
VETree@ancienttreeforum.co.uk
Read
press release pdf (110.95KB) |
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July 2012
Public Affairs at the Woodland Trust
Woodland Matters
Great Parks were made for major
events, but are their great trees safe? |
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It’s not
hard to see why national outdoor events are staged in beautiful tree-rich
parkland. The choice of Greenwich Park for the 2012 Olympics Equestrian
events is just a case in point. It’s a stunning historic park thick with
trees of all sorts and ages including some very special ancient sweet
chestnuts planted during the reign of Charles II. Likewise Stoneleigh Park
in Warwickshire, full of veteran oaks, will play host to The Great
Exhibition 2012, a festival showcasing the best of British during the
Olympic summer
more......... |
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July 2012
Press Release
England’s forests safe, but has the Panel gone far enough for iconic
trees?
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The Ancient
Tree Forum’s reaction to Independent Panel on Forestry's final report,
published Wed 4 July
The Ancient Tree Forum is pleased that the Independent Panel have given some
thought to increasing the recognition of the value of ancient, veteran and
other trees of special interest.
However we think the panel could have gone much further to recommend the
introduction of a strong, statutory designation for iconic Trees of Special
Interest so they are properly protected compared to more mainstream trees.
The UK has the highest proportion of ancient and veteran trees in northern
Europe which makes it a priority that the government should be encouraged to
take action to preserve and renew ancient and veteran trees in forests,
woods and wider landscape. We believe it should be a priority that this
resource is mapped to demonstrate its significance within the UK landscape
and be fully incorporated into Local Development Plans.
Read
full Pres Release pdf (275KB) |
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June 2012
New ATF Guide No. 8
Tress and Events
A Showground for Trees
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The
treescape adds value:
Ancient and veteran trees add
immeasurably to the setting of events and participant enjoyment especially
in historic landscapes. The venue may be chosen because of its trees and the
background atmosphere they help to create.
Where special trees are very numerous they may be at the heart of the
activity as well as in peripheral facilities such as car parks. Planning an
event with the ancient, veteran and notable trees in mind helps ensure that
they continue to be an asset to events and the property for decades to come.
Some of our largest and most prestigious events are often held in historic
places where there are many valuable trees. The event is an opportunity to
showcase best practice tree care and raise awareness of our unparalleled
tree heritage to visitors and participants from home and abroad. A small
investment in best management of the trees will be repaid by the benefits
from them over their long lives.
read more.... pdf (15,68KB) |
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June 2012
Forestry Commision
Practice Guide
Managing Deadwood in
Forests and Woodlands
Jonathan Humphrey and Sallie Bailey |
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In the UK
up to a fifth of woodland species depend on dead or dying wood for all or
part of their life cycle. Generally speaking, the greater the volume of
deadwood the greater the value of the woodland for biodiversity, such that
the amount of deadwood in forests and woodlands
is now used as a key international indicator of the biodiversity of forest
ecosystems. This Guide
has been written for woodland owners and managers who want to know where and
how to manage woodlands for deadwood – to help improve forest condition and
fulfil objectives for sustainable forest management and the UK Biodiversity
Action Plan. A specific purpose of the Guide is to help owners and managers
implement the guidelines for managing deadwood set out in the UK Forestry
Standard (UKFS) Guidelines on Forests and biodiversity. The Guide will also
be relevant to those with a general interest in the subject of deadwood
management.
Download
pdf (2.57MB) |
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May 2012
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Tree Watch
Issue 13 May 2011
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Welcome to
the May issue of Tree Watch. We had a very successful AGM in March. The
highlight was the presentation of “Trees in Wokingham Town”. This report on
the Wokingham Town survey, written by Barbara Stagles, Alison Griffin and
Malcolm Inglis, has been circulated widely and is available to download from
our website. There are a few hard copies for sale too. They cost £2.50 (plus
p&p) - anyone wanting copies should contact equipment@wdvta.org.uk. We have
received many complements on the quality of this document and it does seem
to have raised the profile of trees with the Town and Borough Councils.
May issue (978KB) |
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April 2012
Woodland Matters
Public Affairs at the Woodland Trust
New SSSI for ancient and veteran trees
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If you had
been visiting Castle Hill and Windy Pits 12 or more years ago, your
journey into this part of the Forestry Commission’s publically accessible
forest in Rye Dale near Helmsley would have been dominated by the dark and
dense shade cast by western hemlock and other conifers. The gloom would
occasionally be relieved by glimpses of recent small clearings or ‘haloes’
cut in the canopy around ancient oaks to release them from the suffocating
shade.
The Veteran Trees Initiative, that ran from 1996-2000, led by English Nature
(now Natural England) was at its height. There was growing awareness of the
serious risk to light-demanding ancient and veteran oaks of suffocation by
being enclosed in dense conifer Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites
(PAWS).
more...... |
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April 2012
Trees, people and the built environment
Paperback (264 pages)
by
Forestry Commission |
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Proceedings of the Urban Trees Research
Conference 13-14 April 2011.
ICF hosted this event as its National Conference 2011 in partnership with:
Arboricultural Association, Ancient Tree Forum, Bartlett Tree Research
Laboratories, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (now
part of The Design Council), Forest Research, Forestry Commission,
International Society of Arboriculture (UK & I Chapter), Landscape
Institute, London Tree Officers Association, Midland Tree Officers
Association, Myerscough College, National Association of Tree Officers,
Natural England, Royal Institute of British Architects, Royal Institution of
Chartered Surveyors, Royal Town Planning Institute, Trees and Design Action
Group, University of Manchester, Utility Arboriculture Group. Price
£37.51
.......Details |
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March 2012
Common sense risk
management of trees |
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This new
guidance
(Dec 2011 PDF 83KB) from the National Tree Safety Group is based on a set of
basic principles for considering and managing tree safety in the public
interest. The overall approach is that a balance should be struck between
risks and benefits from trees. This document gives guidance summarised as:
The NTSG believes that one fundamental concept should underlie the
management of risks from trees. It is that the evaluation of what is
reasonable should be based upon a balance between benefit and risk. This
evaluation can be undertaken only in a local context, since trees provide
many different types of benefit in a range of different circumstances.
The NTSG position is underpinned by a set of five key principles:
● trees provide a wide variety of benefits to society
● trees are living organisms that naturally lose branches or fall
● the overall risk to human safety is extremely low
● tree owners have a legal duty of care
● tree owners should take a balanced and proportionate approach to tree
safety
management.
The National Tree Safety Group (NTSG) is composed of a number of
organisations with an interest in tree risk management. |
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March 2012
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) |
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The
NPPF for England has been published (27 March 2012)
In essence it reduces 1000 pages of planning guidance to just 50 and is
intended to set the context for economic growth, environmental protection
and localism for many years ahead.
It appears that the worst excess of the consultation draft are gone. The
blunt instrument which was the ‘default yes to development’ has been done
away with. The definition of sustainable development has also been
strengthened with the welcome inclusion of the five principles set out in
the UKs Sustainable Development Strategy Securing the Future.
download pdf (915KB) |
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March 2012
Woodland Matters
Public Affairs at the Woodland Trust
‘New’ TPO regulations are an opportunity missed'
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At the end of 2010 you helped us to campaign
for changes to the proposed Tree Preservation Order (TPO) regulations for
England, put out for consultation by DCLG (Department of Communities and
Local Government). An amazing 2,800 of you specifically asked them to remove
the exception for dead trees and a new exception that had been included for
the removal of dead branches on living trees.
In Scotland the TPO regulations are different and do not include these
exemptions. Despite clear evidence that there is no real need, in England
CLG have gone ahead and retained both the exceptions.
Local Authorities do not make TPOs lightly. Many of the
trees that are TPO protected play a very significant role in
their communities and provide them with myriad benefits.The
inclusion of these exceptions undermines the option a local
authority has to protect something that is very vulnerable
and important. Many of the trees that are TPO protected play
a very significant role in their communities and provide
them with many benefits. These exceptions stop Local
Planning Authorities from making TPOs on those exceptional
trees that have important wildlife and heritage value but
have died, even if they may survive for many decades to
come. Nor does the TPO continue to protect a tree that dies
or any dead limbs that it acquires as it naturally ages. read
more
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January 2012
Massaria Disease of Plane
LTOA & Arboricultural Association Position Statement
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The London Tree Officers Association Massaria
Working Group (LTOA MWG) has been set up to look into the problem of
Massaria Disease of Plane (MDP) and communicate its finding with a view to
ensuring good management practice is maintained in order to safeguard all
the benefits and contribution to the community derived from the Capital’s
London Planes.
Download their position statement pdf (112KB) |
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January 2012
Herefordshire Parklands Project Newsletter 3 |
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Hello everyone and Happy New Year. Welcome to
the third volunteer newsletter and the first of 2012. The next few months
can seem like they should be quieter for parkland recording, with many plant
and animal species becoming dormant until the spring, shorter days and
inclement weather.
However, the winter can also be a good time to be recording certain
archaeology and wildlife if the conditions are favourable, precisely because
there is less obscured by leaves and vegetation. The training opportunities
will be ongoing while the survey season starts in earnest, in February.
Read Newsletter pdf (1505KB) |
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December 2011
'Trees are Good'
Tree Care Information
Benefits, Values, Care |
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The International Society of Arboriculture
publishes a series of consumer education brochures that are available for
purchase. However, ISA has also made the information available via the
web site |
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December 2011
'The State of
the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees' |
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The Ancient Tree Forum
have contributed to this new report which explores in more detail just how
important forests, woods and trees are, but also the urgent need to turn
words into action if we are to do them justice.
In this International Year of Forests, the Woodland Trust felt it was
important to bring together voices from across the sector.
Twenty different collaborators have worked together to produce
'The State of the UK’s Forests, Woods and Trees' The consortium of
groups, led by the Woodland Trust, represents a range of interests from
timber production, to woodland conservation, to community participation.
On
page 60 PDF (465KB) is
the piece from Caroline Davis on behalf of the Ancient Tree Forum |
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November 2011
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Tree Watch
Issue 11 November 2011
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Welcome to the November
issue of Tree Watch. Once
again the autumn colours are fantastic and remind us just
how wonderful trees are! WDVTA continues to go from
strength to strength. In the August issue I told you about
our 5000th tree. I hope you all saw the piece about it in the Wokingham
Times. If you missed it – follow the link on the home page of our
website.
November issue pdf (1075KB) |
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October 2011
Saving a Vancouver icon from
destruction: the story of the Hollow Tree
Vancover Observer
Alexis Stoymenoff
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The famous ancient
Western Red Cedar that looms over Stanley Park finally received its official
commemoration Wednesday, in a ceremony co-hosted by the Vancouver Park Board
and the Stanley Park Hollow Tree Conservation Society.
The tree has faced a long and arduous battle over the past three years,
having been saved from imminent destruction and restored by a group of local
citizens as a natural monument<
Full article |
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October 2011
The Veteran Trees of
Warwickshire
Steven Falk 2011 |
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Traditionally,
much fuss has been made of old buildings and other historic man-made
structures in our countryside and built environment. Rather neglected
amongst all of this until recently has been concern over some of our
oldest living features, veteran trees. Through a series of historic
circumstances, the British countryside has come to support a far greater
density of old trees than most parts of either Europe or lowland North
America. They survive in our ancient hedges (which can be of medieval origin
or older), former deer parks, and sometimes perched on the sides of steep
hills where various potentially damaging agricultural activities have failed
to reach them. Many have seen the landscape around them change out of all
recognition as they have become swallowed up by urban sprawl or changing
land-use. Deer parks may have become replaced by business parks or golf
courses but the original trees sometimes survive e.g. at Stoneleigh Park.
read the full leaflet |
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October 2011
New Guinness World Record for
largest tree hug at Delamere Forest
Forestry Commission England |
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Forestry
Commission England has been awarded a new World Record for the largest tree
hug, which took place on 11 September 2011 at Delamere Forest in Cheshire.
Over 700 tree huggers joined forces on the day eager to set a new record,
with participants gathered from as far afield as mainland Europe to join in
the event and share the excitement.
Teams in America and Nepal have attempted a largest tree hug record before
but this is the first time it has actually been achieved.
The world record attempt was organised as part of the Forestry Commission’s
celebrations of the UN’s International Year of Forests. The Forest Discovery
Day took place simultaneously at 28 of our major sites, with a host of
different events taking place across England.
more... pdf (81KB) |
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October 2011
Science News
Study: Urban trees remove pollution
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British
researchers say trees can improve air quality in cities like London by
filtering out pollution particulates that are damaging to human health.
The urban trees of the greater London area remove somewhere between 850 and
2,000 tons of particulate pollution from the air every year, researchers at
the University of Southampton said in a release Wednesday.
read more
pdf (303KB) |
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August 2011
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Tree Watch
Issue 10 August 2011
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This is a landmark
issue of Tree Watch – not only is it the tenth issue – it marks the
recording of our 5000th tree, a lovely oak in Bearwood Recreation Ground,
Winnersh (see page 2).
The other important news is that we have now formally joined the Tree Warden
network (see page 3). Stephen Loyd is taking the lead here. There is a new
web page and a new e-mail address: treewardens @ wdvta.org.uk
We had a very entertaining and informative talk from Glynn Percival in July.
We now have a rather different image of the royal corgis! His PowerPoint
presentation is on our web site.
flyer pdf (230KB) |
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August 2011
Scottish Hazel Woods
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Ancient hazel trees
dripping with lovely lichens.
A feature from BBC Scotland's Landward, presented by Sarah Mack, featuring
Gordon Gray Stephens (Scottish Native Woods) and Andy Acton (Lichenologist)
Scottish Hazel Woods www.youtube.com |
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August 2011
The ATF Response to the Independent Panel on Forestry’s Call for
Views |
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The Ancient Tree Forum (ATF) seeks to raise
awareness and understanding of the value and importance of ancient trees and
advocates no further avoidable loss of ancient trees. Ancient trees are a
type of Tree of Special Interest (TSI) which also includes notable, champion
and other veteran and heritage trees. TSIs are important for biodiversity,
heritage and landscape because of their size, age, condition or for their
cultural connections.
Read the full
document pdf (140KB) |
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August 2011
The Great Trees of Cornwall
HLF Project |
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The Cornwall Ancient Tree Forum is a network of
interested people with an elected Board to help organise events, learning
activities and undertake tree recording. Its
latest project was “The Great Trees of Cornwall” managed by a project
officer, Loveday Jenkin, who coordinated and planned a range of activities a
learning CD for schools and extensive recording over the last three years to
support the national ‘Ancient Tree Hunt’.
The ‘Great Trees of Cornwall’ project came to a close at the end of June and
the Forum will no longer have the staff and finances that came with it.
However, the good
news is that it was remarkably successful and now has a network of more than
200 volunteers, professionals and enthusiastic individuals, including
yourself, who are
interested in looking after the special trees of Cornwall.
In order to plan for the next couple of years activities, we really need to
know what resources and skills are out there and just what you would like to
get out of the
Forum. So please take a minute or two to complete the attached survey and
return it to us by
email, or the address below. We promise to keep you updated about the
results of
the Great Trees project and plans for next year.
Survey
pdf (132KB) Summer
Newsletter 2011 pdf (3875KB) |
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August 2011
Swedes find 'world's oldest tree'
BBC News Channel |
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Scientists from
Umeaa University discovered the spruce on Fulu Mountain in Dalarna
province while carrying out a census of tree species there in 2004.
The age of its genetic material was recently calculated using carbon dating
at a laboratory in Miami, Florida.
Full article pdf
(132KB) |
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July 2011
A review of the saproxylic
invertebrate assemblages at
Birklands & Bilhaugh Sites of
Special Scientific Interest
Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire
Natural England Commissioned Report NECR072 |
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Natural
England commission a range of reports from external contractors to
provide evidence and advice to assist us in delivering our duties. The views
in this
report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of
Natural England.
This report presents the first comprehensive
review and evaluation of the saproxylic (wooddecay)
invertebrate assemblage of Birklands
and Bilhaugh SSSI and Birklands West and
Ollerton Corner SSSI in Sherwood Forest in
Nottinghamshire. Together these are recognised
as one of the most significant localities for this
fauna in Britain.
ALEXANDER, K.N.A. 2011. A review of the
national importance and current condition of the
saproxylic invertebrate assemblages at
Birklands & Bilhaugh Sites of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSIs), Sherwood Forest,
Nottinghamshire. Natural England
Commissioned Reports, NECR072.
Read full report pdf
(693KB) |
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June 2011
Deadwood in Historic Parks and Gardens -
new English Heritage Advice Note |
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This Landscape Advice Note looks at how dead
wood can be integrated in the presentation of historic parks and gardens
that is:-
● in keeping with the aesthetics of the
landscape design
● beneficial for wildlife.
The Note also briefly considers duties of care to people, property and
livestock.
Download Advice Note
pdf (4787KB) |
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May 2011
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Tree Watch
Issue 9 May 2011 |
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Check out:
Issue No. 9 May 2011 of Wokingham District
Veteran Tree Association Tree Watch. pdf (694 KB)
Main items in this issue:-
p2 AGM Surprises for Barbara p5 Great Yew Hunt – dissertation project
p2 Rooks Nest Wood, Barkham p7 Commemorative and Notable Trees
p4 Profile – Patricia Green p7 Verification Trial
p4 Meeting with Remarkable Trees
p9 Did You Know? |
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May 2011
Brazil's hard won reputation on forest protection now in Senate's
hands
WWF |
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Brasilia, Brazil:
Brazil’s reputation as a country that is serious about preventing
deforestation and minimising climate change is in the hands of the country’s
Senate and president, following parliamentary approval of sweeping
reductions to forest protection last night.
“These changes are not in the interest of Brazilian society, and nature, go
against Brazilian national and international commitments, and put climate
stability at great risk,” said WWF-Brazil Conservation Director Carlos
Alberto de Mattos Scaramuzza.
"For the narrow economic benefit of particular private interests, Brazil’s
National Assembly is proposing to cast aside the basis of our country’s
remarkable and much praised achievements in reducing the rates of
deforestation."
”The dramatic surge in deforestation rates that has occurred just in
anticipation of this law shows the sort of destruction that Brazil is
looking at if the changes to the Forest Code pass the Senate and are
accepted by the president.”
Full article pdf (44.65KB) |
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April 2011
Judge orders National grid to stop
spraying pesticide on insect rich habitat
Wildlife Extra
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Legal battle for bumblebee paradise:
April 2011. Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is fighting to
protect a wildlife haven on the Isle of Grain in Kent from a huge National
Grid warehouse development. This bug paradise is home to a variety of
beautiful, rare and endangered insects including a large population of
threatened bumblebee species.
The Isle of Grain supports an exceptional area of Open Mosaic Habitat
providing lots of pollen and nectar rich flowers, bare ground ideal for
burrowing and basking insects and pools for aquatic beetles and bugs - a
similar habitat to West Thurrock Marshes, a key wildlife site that Buglife
fought to save in 2008.
Read the article pdf
(416kb) |
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April 2011
New Book
'Fungi on Trees'
an Arborists' Field Guide
Aboricultural Association
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What makes this guide so different from
anything else on the market is that for the first time decay fungi of
amenity trees regularly encountered by arboriculturists are described with
an array of representative photographs detailing stages in development as
well as close up studio shots as an aid to identification.
Price £15
To Order..... |
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March 2011
New Book
by
Antony Chessell 'The Braw Trees of Coldstream'
An ageless tale of Coldstream’s braw trees
Berwickshire News |
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Fascinated by his Coldstream surroundings
Antony Chessell is now on to his second book about the area - this time
focusing on the town’s ‘notable’, ‘veteran’ and ‘ancient’ trees.
A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Antony moved to
Coldstream six years ago and his interest in the town’s wealth of different
building styles led to his first book ‘Coldstream Building Snippets: ‘Cans,
Quoins and Coursers’. The book describes many of the town’s old buildings,
the surrounding area and the visible building techniques that were used.
Now his second book ‘The Braw Trees of Coldstream’ provides the background
for trees in and around the town and their setting within the Scottish
Borders on account of their age, historical connections, location, or
appearance. There is information on native and non-native trees and on the
usefulness of the selected species for ornamental or practical purposes.
“It is intended to be an ‘easy read’ and, above all, a book for ‘potterers’
like my ‘Coldstream Building Snippets’ for which it is really a companion
volume.” said Antony, who describes it as “a living version of a listed
buildings inventory”.
read more pdf
(107KB) |
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March 2011
Rare daddy longlegs fly in Sherwood Forest reveals value of ancient woods
Evironment Times
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Maybe when Robin Hood was thieving from the
rich and the Sheriff of Nottingham was firing his arrows, the rare and
strikingly coloured daddy longlegs fly, Ctenophora ornata, was a common
sight. But for well over a hundred years this crane fly has disappeared from
England to the extent that there have only been six sightings of the insect
since the 1960s in just two areas, and the latest has just been confirmed to
be from a new site - Sherwood Forest.
Bug enthusiasts 48 year old Trevor Pendleton and his wife Dilys, spotted the
crane fly on the trunk of a veteran tree in Nottinghamshire County Council’s
Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve.
Photo-Trevor
Pendleton pdf (65KB)
Full article
pdf (248KB)
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March 2011
Is the practice of haloing successful
in promoting extended life?
A preliminary investigation of the response of veteran oak and
beech trees to increased light levels in Windsor Forest
by
Keith Alexander, Derick Stickler and Ted Green
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Summary: Veteran oak and beech trees
within Windsor Forest have been released from competing plantation and
secondary growth – this type of work is often referred to as haloing. This
paper reports a preliminary attempt to monitor the success of this
management work in terms of the survival of 40 of the trees treated in
2003-4 and their responses in terms of reiterative and epicormic growth in
response to increased light levels. The biodiversity values of the trees
have also been examined. In general, the haloing work has been very
successful, especially where the halo size was larger and where groups of
trees were involved rather than single trees. Veteran oak benefited most
from this work but there have also been clear benefits for some of the
veteran beech. The biodiversity importance of these trees is well
illustrated by the discovery of fragments of the internationally rare and
legally protected violet click
beetle, Limoniscus violaceus, in one of the released trees. Follow-up
additional release work is now a priority if the benefits from the first
phase of haloing are not now to be lost – the larger the area cleared of
competing growth in the first phase of release the greater the benefit
observed and the less follow-up work is needed. A tree monitoring form has
been designed in order to aid documentation and analysis of the results of
such conservation work. This should be adopted and further developed for use
on other sites as so much of this type of conservation work is not
adequately documented (whether for tree conservation or biodiversity);
information is being lost and learnt lessons are not being shared.
read
the paper pdf (9MB) |
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March 2011
Is the practice of haloing successful
in promoting extended life? |
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Each year the RFS (Royal Forestry Society)
awards the James Cup to the author of the best article in their QJF.
Congratulations to Helen Reid et al who came second with
her paper on 'The current status of
ancient pollard beech trees at Burnham Beeches and evaluation of recent
restoration techniques' by Helen J. Read, C.P. Wheater, V. Forbes and J.
Young
A panel comprising 10 RFS members, drawn from across their broad-based
membership, each submit a list of their five favourites – and the results
are combined at the Tring HQ to decide the overall winner.
This year, the judges cited 17 articles in all – with six different ones as
first choices – showing yet again the breadth and quality of subjects
covered in their QJF.
The clear winner was ‘Minor Conifers in Britain – potential for silviculture
and timber utilisation’ by Scott McG. Wilson in the January 2010 issue.
In joint second place were:
● ‘The current status of ancient pollard
beech trees in Burnham Beeches’ by Helen
Read et al in the April issue and
●‘The roles of tree breeding and silviculture in
disease control’ by Karen Russell and
Peter Savill in the July issue.
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December 2010
Ancient Tre(e-News) –the newsletter of
The Ancient Tree Forum |
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The
latest issue of the E-newsletter of the Ancient Tree Forum pdf
(348KB). This is intended as an occasional publication disseminating
information, as a Forum should. It is being sent initially to those who have
registered their email address on our website. Please forward to anyone you
think might be interested. Very much more information is to be found on our
website at:
www.ancient-tree-forum.org.uk |
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December 2010
From Another Kingdom
The Amazing World of Fungi
New Book |
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Fungi play a crucial role in supporting life on
Earth, and we humans benefit directly through an array of fungal products,
including foods and medicines.
This
book explores our relationship with fungi and our complex cultural
attitudes towards them. Chapters include fungal biology, chemistry,
cultivation, foraging and cons Written for the non-specialist, and making
full use of the extraordinary diversity and beauty of fungi through stunning
images, this book provides a fascinating introduction to a group of
organisms whose lifestyle means they remain largely out of sight, overlooked
and forgotten. The reality is that there is much for which fungi should be
thanked. |
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November 2010
The Conservation Foundation
Project Ulmus Londinium
will identify remaining elms and provide new trees for the capital
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The first complete survey of London’s elm tree
population is about to get underway, thanks to a grant of almost £50,000
from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The Conservation Foundation will look at the role elm trees have played in
the capital’s history and provide new trees for future generations.
“Many people think all the elms have gone, killed off by Dutch Elm Disease
in the 70s, but we know of quite a few mature, healthy trees and there could
well be many more” explained David Shreeve director of the Foundation.
This is the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity and so it’s an excellent
time to be putting the spotlight on the biodiversity of London’s elm
population for there are many elms growing here from around the world. Some
are in our parks and gardens, but many more have been planted over the years
by local authorities and are doing a great job greening the capital’s
streets. Some of these could well have a resistance to disease which would
enable them to be used in future propagation experiments.
The Heritage Lottery Fund will help us launch a major survey throughout
London which we hope will involve all of the London Tree Officers and tree
wardens along with other enthusiasts, schools and the general public. We
will provide help to those who want to know more about identifying elms and
stage workshops for experts and enthusiasts to meet and have elm leaves
identified.”
read more..... |
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November 2010
BTCV
Press Release
Kent Set to Celebrate its Woody Heritage |
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Kent’s trees and woodlands look set for a
bright future thanks to a major new project to be undertaken by
environmental organisation BTCV. Announced to coincide with National Tree
Week (27th November – 5th December), the five year scheme has been awarded a
confirmed grant of just over £650,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)
Set to involve hundreds of people of all ages from across the region in an
education and activity programme focused on Kent’s rich stock of heritage
trees, the project will also survey and record over 10,000 heritage trees
across the county.
The project aims to celebrate and promote the value of heritage trees,
defined by the Forestry Commission as ‘old trees, wide trees, rare trees and
trees with historical and cultural significance.’ The funding will provide
two project officers to oversee all the project’s activities, a programme of
courses for 330 volunteers who would like to become ‘Heritage Tree
Surveyors,’ 24 habitat management courses and 64 biodiversity courses, all
of which will be open to volunteers and members of the public.
Aimed specifically at schools, families and people under 35 but open to all,
there will also be 480 ‘Woodland Wonder’ community educational sessions.
These sessions will provide an introduction to practical conservation and
the natural world with fun activities like welly walks, natural art and
music, tree decorating and mini-beast hunts.
read full press release
pdf (128KB)
A4 Poster pdf (2MB) |
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November 2010
New Book
Les trognes, l'arbre paysan
aux mille usages
by
Dominique Mansion |
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This book is an invitation to discover the
cultural and biodiversity interest of these forgotten trees.
Now on sale. Available from:
www.foretpriveefrancaise.com/les-trognes-l-arbre-paysan-aux-mille-usages-817064.html
32 Euros a copy but worth every penny. |
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November 2010
Hartley Witney Management Plan
Final Draft |
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Hartley Witney Management Plan – final draft
has just been published. The old oak trees are the most significant
ecological feature of the commons. They are also an important part of in the
cultural history of Hartley Wintney and its unique present day character.
You'll see what a lovely and interesting place it is from the pictures.
Still time to comment
on it – until 1 Jan 2011 . Would be good to get it as an flagship site. As
you will see the area is well used by people as it is really an old
fashioned common in the heart of the village.
The final draft of the management plan can be found on the Hart District
Council website see
link (pdf) |
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November 2010
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Tree Watch |
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Check out the latest edition of Tree Watch
(Issue 7).
In this issue there is an update on their website and a breakdown of the
number of trees recorded for each parish. Patricia Green describes one
particular
surveying session, but I’m sure all surveyors will recognise some aspects of
this account.
Issue
7 pdf (981KB) |
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October 2010 |
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The Heath & Hampstead Society has arranged a
free lecture by Oliver Rackham in Hampstead on Thursday 7 October.
This is a rare opportunity to hear him in London, speaking on 'Hampstead
Heath and Woods: deer, woodcutting and the urban heat island'.
More details here |
August 2010
Dinefwr deer is now open to everyone
(From South Wales Guardian) |
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After years when access was only possible
through guided walks, the ancient deer park at Dinefwr is now open to all on
a prepared, way-marked route.
This area – at the heart of the National Nature Reserve – contains some of
the finest examples of truly ancient veteran oak trees.
Among them live a herd of Fallow deer, which date back to the enclosure of
the deer park in around 1660 along with the historic White Park cattle.
Visitors will be able to enter the deer park and be guided on the route by
appropriately placed natural stones.
"It is a wonderful opportunity to add to your visit at Dinefwr by stepping
into this unique ancient deer park,,," said Head Warden Brian Hancock. "We
hope our visitors will be thrilled by this wonderful experience."
Access will be the same as normal property opening hours, with closure to
the deer park in line with the closing of the Board Walk. Gates will be
locked out of hours.
A National Trust spokesman said that due to its importance for wildlife,
dogs cannot be brought into the ancient park.
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August 2010
The current status of ancient pollard beech trees
at Burnham Beeches and evaluation of
recent restoration techniques
by Helen J. Read
C.P. Wheater
V. Forbes
and J. Young
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Summary: Recent
studies on ancient beech pollards at Burnham Beeches have included
assessments of their current condition and evaluation of the responses of
the trees to restoration pollarding, both in terms of new growth after
cutting and the health of the branches. The trees show positive responses to
cuts and the death rate of the trees has been slowed. The length of stub
left at time of cutting is positively correlated with the number of branches
arising from it; a longer stub also increases the chance that a cluster of
new shoots will arise. Trees that had been cut in the 1950s have produced
more new shoots than those not cut for approximately 200 years. Other
impacts on tree growth after recent restoration cutting are discussed.
Study the full
Paper
pdf (178KB) |
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July 2010
New Book
Biodiversity in the New Forest
Edited by Adrian C Newton
Centre of Education Ecology and Environmental Change
School of Conservation Sciences
Bournemouth University
Poole
Dorse
Available from:
Pisces Publications, 36 Kingfisher Court,
Hambridge Road, Newbury RG14 5SJ
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The New Forest is one of the most important
areas for wildlife in the UK, being home to large numbers of flowering
plants, bryophytes, lichens, fungi, bats, birds, mammals, reptiles and
invertebrates. These species are associated with extensive areas of
semi-natural habitats, which occur in a complex mosaic that is now rarely
encountered in western Europe. The unique character of the New Forest is
largely attributable to its long history of grazing by large herbivores,
reflecting its origins as a medieval hunting forest and the survival of a
traditional commoning system. The importance of the New Forest, to both
wildlife and people, is reflected in its recent designation as a National
Park.
This book provides an overview of biodiversity in the New Forest, by
summarising what is currently known about its characteristic species and the
habitats with which they are associated. Information is presented on current
trends in the status and distribution different groups of organisms,
focusing on those of particular conservation importance. Information is also
provided on the condition of different habitats, with the aim of informing
future management decisions and identifying particular issues of concern.
This book provides a unique compilation of existing knowledge about the New
Forest, provided by a range of specialists with a deep understanding of the
area. This information is provided to help ensure that the special character
of the New Forest, and its exceptional value for wildlife, is maintained in
the future.
eflyer/order form pdf (94KB)
contents/Chap 5 pdf
(1MB) |
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July 2010
Woodland Trust Campaigns
Blog
TPOs - Let's not miss an opportunity!
Scottish Government's proposed changes to Tree Preservation Orders |
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In partnership with the Ancient Tree Forum, we
recently commented on the Scottish Government’s proposed changes to Tree
Preservation Orders (TPOs)
The changes are aimed at improving tree protection and if it helps ancient,
veteran, champion and notable trees, then we are keen to support them. A
better system could reduce the number of important trees that continue to be
lost across Scotland such as those recorded through the Ancient Tree Hunt.
Follow the
blog |
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July 2010
The Great Trees of London
new book
Published
03/06/2010
Publisher
Time Out Group Ltd
ISBN
9781846701542
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"The
Great Trees of London" brings together over 60 trees around the
capital that have achieved 'Great Tree' status - as determined by the
popular tree-planting charity Trees for Cities. As you might expect, there
are plenty of London planes, horse chestnuts and oaks - the everyday trees
that everyone is familiar with - but also some rarer species. The Greenwich
Park Shagback Hickory, for instance, probably the largest such tree in the
country, and the Marble Hill Black Walnut, with its unusual pitch-black
bark. There are magnificent, towering specimens, such as the Forty Hall
Cedar of Lebanon and the Berkeley Square Plane, as well as humbler trees
that, on first glance, might not deserve the accolade of Great. But they are
special for other reasons: the Marylebone Elm is one such: it survived
bombing in World War II (which destroyed the adjacent church) as well as
Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s, which wiped out three-quarters of Britain's
elms. Some incredibly venerable trees appear too, such as the Charlton House
Mulberry, planted at the request of James I at the turn of the 17th century,
and the Richmond Royal Oak, estimated to be 750 years old. Packed with
glorious colour photography taken in various seasons, this book also
contains a glossary of botanical terms; facts, figures and folklore about
key species. And where else in the capital you'll find usual or interesting
trees. |
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July 2010
Special Trees and Woods Project
Latest Newsletter |
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The latest newsletter from the Special Trees
and Woods Project is now available to download from the News page of the
Project’s website –
www.chilternsaonb.org/special/news
I hope you enjoy reading these newsletters and that you will forward this
email on to anyone who shares a love of trees and woods. If for any reason
you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, please let me know.
Rachel Sanderson
Special Trees and Woods Project
rsanderson@chilternsaonb.org
Tel: 01844 355525 |
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June 2010
How fruit trees in Indian village save girls' lives
by
Amarnath Tewary
Bhagalpur, Bihar
BBC News Channel |
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In India, where traditionally boys have been
preferred over girls, a village in backward Bihar state has been setting an
example by planting trees to celebrate the birth of a girl child.
In Dharhara village, Bhagalpur district, families plant a minimum of 10
trees whenever a girl child is born. And this practice is paying off.
Nikah Kumari, 19, is all set to get married in early June. The would-be
groom is a state school teacher chosen by her father, Subhas Singh.
Mr Singh is a small-scale farmer with a meagre income, but he is not worried
about the high expenses needed for the marriage ceremony.
For, in keeping with the village tradition, he had planted 10 mango trees
the day Nikah was born.
The girl - and the trees - were nurtured over the years and today both are
grown up. "Today that day has come for which we had planted the trees. We've
sold off the fruits of the trees for three years in advance and got the
money to pay for my daughter's wedding," Mr Singh told the BBC.
more..... |
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June 2010
United Nations General Assembly declares 2011 as International Year of
ForestsDepartment of Public Information
News and Media Division New York |
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To bolster efforts that will promote
sustainable management, conservation and development of forests worldwide,
the General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring the year 2011 as the
International Year of Forests.
Forests are an integral part of global sustainable development:
forest-related economic activities affect livelihoods of 1.6 billion people
worldwide; they provide socio-cultural benefits and are the foundation for
indigenous knowledge; and as ecosystems, forests play a critical role in
mitigating the effects of climate change and protecting biodiversity.
The International Year of Forests will raise awareness and promote global
action to sustainably manage, conserve and develop all types of forests,
including trees outside of forests. “This is an open invitation to the world
community”, says Pekka Patosaari, Director of the United Nations Forum on
Forests Secretariat, “to come together and work with Governments,
international organizations and civil society, to ensure that our forests
are managed sustainably for current and future generations”.
read full declaration |
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June 2010
It’s a record breaker!
Largest cherry tree in the country found in Cumbria
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Standing quietly in a field in rural Cumbria
stands possibly the
largest wild cherry tree in the whole country. Jpeg (102KB)
Measuring a massive 5.3m (18ft) around its trunk and located on the edge of
the village of Maulds Meaburn, the tree weighs in at the size of mature oak
and has been festooned in cascades of brilliant white blossom for the last
week. Until 2008 Yorkshire boasted the UK’s largest wild cherry at 5.7 m
(18.8ft), but a freak storm snapped the tree’s crown.
Neil Cruikshank, who lives in a house overlooking the Cumbrian tree, said:
“Unusually for a wild cherry, it produces the most deliciously flavoured
cherries. In fact in July the tree bends to the great weight of fruit on the
branches and we can usually gather enough to make 8 pounds of cherry jam
without even having to use a ladder.
It is a beautiful tree in every season with its white blossom in spring and
deep red foliage in the autumn.”
Edward Parker, Ancient Tree Hunt project manager at the Woodland Trust,
said: “This cherry must be one of the most beautiful and magnificent trees
in the whole of the UK, yet cherry is not necessarily the first species
people think of when looking for an ancient tree. It might not have the
hulking grandeur of a thousand year old oak or the great age of one of our
fantastic yew trees (which can live to over 4000 years old), but with its
beautifully fluted trunk and huge canopy of striking white blossom in spring
this tree makes a truly spectacular sight.”
The Ancient Tree Hunt is run by the Woodland Trust in partnership with over
70 organisations. Its aim is to record at least 100,000 ancient, veteran and
notable trees by the end of 2011, and to date over 63,000 trees have been
registered. The database held at
www.AncientTreeHunt.org.uk is the first living record of the UK’s
old trees ever attempted. Anyone can record an interesting tree by visiting
the website and following the simple instructions. |
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May 2010
Managing risks from trees
National Tree Safety Group
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The Ancient Tree Forum, who are members of the
National Tree Safety Group, welcome this new position statement.
The NTSG position is that fundamentally the management of risk should be an
evaluation of what is reasonable based on a balance between benefit and
risk.
Read the full
statement pdf (68KB) |
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April 2010
No 4 ANCIENT TRE(E-News)
The newsletter of The Ancient Tree Forum |
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Read the
latest issue of the E-newsletter of the Ancient Tree Forum (an
acrobat 2 MB PDF file). This is intended as an occasional publication
disseminating information, as a Forum should. It is being sent initially to
those who have registered their email address on our website. Please forward
to anyone you think might be interested. Very much more information is to be
found on our website at
www.ancient-tree-forum.org.uk where you can also subscribe and
receive this automatically. |
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March 2010
Jurupa Hills oak may be California's oldest plant
13,000 year-old Quercus palmeri discovered
International Oak Society News |
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Researchers from UC Davis and UC Riverside say
the 75-foot-wide Palmer's oak shrub has lived about 13,000 years despite
inhospitable surroundings, regenerating itself with new shoots.
Nestled between two boulders on a low rise in the Jurupa Hills of Riverside
County, a good 30 miles from its nearest living relative, lies the ultimate
survivor -- an oak bush that researchers believe is 13,000 years old.
Read
full article |
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April 2010
Helping to protect Toronto's heritage trees
Ontario Urban Forest Counc |
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Helping to protect Toronto's heritage trees.
This giant red
oak is located in the Sheppard Avenue and Weston Road area -
photo courtesy Edith george. If trees could talk, many of them would tell us
stories of the rich history they have observed in their lifetimes.
This is why the Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) works to raise public
awareness and convince government to provide legislation to protect trees
that are as historically significant as our heritage buildings, said Jack
Radecki, executive director of OUFC.
Further reading |
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March 2010
East Midlands Airport to be powered by willow trees
BBC News |
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East Midlands Airport is thought to have become
the first in the UK to plant its own willow farm to produce fuel to power
the terminal building.
The 26-hectare farm will be planted and harvested in phases over the next
three years to ensure a continual crop of willow to power a bio-mass boiler.
It is part of the airport's plan to become carbon neutral by 2012.
Airport official Neil Robinson said: "This is a landmark day for the
airport."
The farm is expected to produce about 280 tonnes of wood fuel annually,
saving 350 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The airport is also piloting the use of buses powered by liquid bio-methane
fuel for passengers. |
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