Ancient Tree Forum

March 2004

How the National Trust moved a major footpath away from ancient beeches

Click on pictures below to enlarge

A little fencing project

How difficult can it be to fence off an area of woodland? This is what I thought when I started the project in May 2003. At The National Trust of Crickley Hill (Gloucestershire) there is a strip of woodland (Crickley hill wood) that has 44 old Beech trees that, on average, are 250 years old, planted when Cheltenham was developing as a Spa town. The site is right on the edge of the slope, overlooking Gloucester and Cheltenham. The trees were mostly planted on a Medieval earth bank and ditch, obviously a much earlier feature that would have been used to keep grazing animals out whilst trees were coppiced.
In 1986, Crickley Hill was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by English Nature for Geological and Biological reasons. One of those reasons is the mature Beech woodland found there and the habitat it provides. Rare beetles live in the deadwood retained in these trees and in some cases live in the rare fungi that grow on the rotten wood. These faceless beetles have Latin name only, and not many people are interested in them, however, they are in need of protection.
The trees themselves are under threat; the pedestrian traffic (291,000 visitors per year and rising 11% per year) concentrated in this narrow area is compacting and eroding the surrounding soil, this must be halted if we are to retain the trees for as long as possible. Taking into account the increased risk to visitors from falling branches, and the health of the trees, something had to be done. Tree surgery would reduce the habitat, make the trees look ugly and not address the soil problem, it needed fencing off; in this world of open access a contentious issue.
Part of the Cotswold Way National Trail was about to be designated through this wood, the County Council was happy to accommodate an alternative route on its land, therefore, legally we could proceed.
Next gather your allies, submissions on the value of the trees were requested. English Nature, NT Biological Survey report, NT Archaeologist, Tree Surgeons report, County Council Landscape Architect. These were gathered with a justification for the project into an information pack and sent to relevant councillors, ramblers, parties with an interest in Crickley Hill
I undertook a two day visitor survey to assess the public’s value of the property, gave a limited press release, spoke on BBC radio Gloucestershire and held a two day open shop for the public to voice their opinions on the project.
Two local school groups were given bug scopes and taken on a “Bug Safari” by Keith Alexander, these were an enjoyable start to a program of limited access events into the wood. Two interpretation panels were designed and erected informing the public about the trees, the life they support and their need for protection.
The fencing went up in October 2003, temporary signs were put on the gates with maps showing alternate paths and giving contact details.
I have only received one irate phone call from a chap threatening to stir local opinion although he has fallen silent after sending him a copy of the information pack. So now I hope the wonderful mature Beech trees can be left to grow old gracefully and provide a wonderful skyline to Cheltenham and Gloucester for many years to come.

Moving the target at Crickley Hill, Glos.