They say -
An oak tree grows for 300 years,
Rests for 300 years and then
Spends the next 300 years gracefully declining.
Although the origins and age of this quote are unknown, it could be said it illustrates that people have been aware of our ancient trees and fascinated with their age down the centuries.
The late forester Harry Searle – a gentleman of the forest, once commented on the changing uses of oak trees for man with the passage of time and how today the trees are just as important to people but for completely different reasons. We know that historically oaks provided mast for swine, leaf fodder for other animals, fuel and timber for buildings and ships and bark for tanning. Old and ancient oaks would also have been a significant component of the areas set aside by the Saxon and Norman kings for their royal hunting forests, some of which were later on enclosed as deer parks. Then came a wave of new landscapers who designed for a privileged few. They sometimes incorporated the old oaks but often swept them away. In the last century many parks have been threatened and lost to development or been badly damaged by agricultural and forestry intensification. Although the concept of parkland has stood the rigours of time and many are now enjoyed by millions, unfortunately most retain only a vestige of their former grandeur.
Fortuitously, the New Forest, now considered a unique remnant of the original landscape with old trees and woodland that greeted Neolithic man, has managed to survive. Today, it is a prime example of a landscape valued enormously for its importance as a recreational asset and for wildlife, again enjoyed by millions.
But, it would appear that by comparison with the rest of northern Europe, there has been a much better tradition of protecting landscapes rich in ancient trees and old woodland across the UK. In more recent times people such as Ken Watkins, founder of The Woodland Trust, had the vision and foresight to establish this organisation with the prime aim of conserving trees for perpetuity, amenity and wildlife. The Woodland Trust and the Ancient Tree Forum have recently joined together to ensure that not only ancient woodland but ancient trees and the ancient wood pasture or parkland, of which they are a characteristic feature, are properly recognised and protected.
As one travels through mainland northern Europe, it soon becomes obvious how few old trees remain. Of those that remain, most are isolated trees. Remarkably little of the old growth woodland in which they once stood, still exists. Some countries, however are recognising how little remains and are protecting the remnants through legislation. As the UK is the major custodian of ancient trees and old growth woodland it is perhaps our greatest responsibility to conserve it as part of the cultural and biodiversity heritage of Europe.
Our wealth of mature, over mature and ancient trees has resulted in British arboriculturalists taking the lead to find better ways of managing them. Faced with a 1000-year-old hollow oak tree, one is simply forced into re-evaluating how trees live. For an ancient tree, growing downwards and hollowing are surely important strategies for survival. Old trees are driving our understanding of how trees grow in general and how to manage their surrounding environment. It is making us take a sideways look at the role of fungi and other micro-organisms in the tree, on the tree and those organisms linking the tree to its environment. An individual tree from this angle becomes merely a unique, dynamic, support system for fungi. Ancient trees and old growth woodland have provided us with the biological continuity of mycorrhizal and decomposition fungi now known to be fundamental to the health and growth of trees.
Throughout the tree world there are more and more initiatives being taken to conserve and protect ancient trees. Many schemes were well under way before the recent legislation resulting from the Rio Summit such as Local Agenda 21, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1994 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 came into force – all of which have significant implications for our trees. However the recognition of their historical and cultural value has yet to catch up. Although the ancient oaks that survive today could be said to be the remnants of the trees that helped put the ‘great’ into Great Britain. There are many examples where scheduled ancient monuments or listed buildings are protected and maintained at great expense, but the ancient trees in the landscapes around them are taken for granted 1. Changes may be on the way as landscapes with ancient trees are being recognised as part of our historic environment and therefore important for our quality of life 2. There is evidence that the general public would support this. At a recent National Trust AGM over 100,000 members registered their support for a resolution that called for ancient trees to be given at least equal recognition to buildings, furniture, works of art and gardens.
The works of major figures in the tree world such as Evelyn, Herbert Edlin, A. Le Sueur, Alan Mitchell and Oliver Rackham have recently been added to by many more authors writing books which have helped to popularise the importance of ancient trees. Radio, TV and articles in journals and the broadsheet press have also played their part. Alan Mitchell was also instrumental in setting up the Tree Register of the British Isles which holds a definitive list of champion trees 3. The Tree Council has recently celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee by nominating 50 Great British Trees across the UK, including some of the biggest and oldest trees in these islands and in Scotland this year there is a TreeFest with many events celebrating ancient trees.
As a young boy, I took great solace in the old trees and woodland of Windsor Great Park when my father went missing in the War. It was reassuring to be among trees which had played such an essential role to man down through the ages. They have given us not only food, fuel, timber, fruits, shelter, recreation and security and the very oxygen we breath but also to many, many other people the same peace and tranquillity as I found.
1. Sanderson N and Cox J (2001) Livestock grazing in National Trust parklands –its impact on tree health and habitat. National Trust Report
2. DTLR (2001) The Historic Environment – a force for the future.
3. TROBI – www.tree-register.org.uk
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