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Natur Cymru Natur Cymru

Hunting ancient trees

A full version of this article appears in the magazine

When people ask what my job is I will more often than not say ‘a tree hugger’. Now this is not true strictly speaking, but I do it to prompt the usual reaction of laughter and a degree of incredulity. But when I actually begin to describe what the Ancient Tree Hunt does, the reaction will change from scepticism and mocking to interest and a real keenness to get involved. With 22,000 trees recorded in just over a year, it is clear that once people get hooked they are captivated by the hunt for our ancient trees.

 

What is it about?

The Ancient Tree Hunt is a five year nationwide project to record 100,000 trees on an online database. Once recorded the trees are classified as ancient, veteran or notable depending on their estimated age. It is very much about getting as many members of the public involved as humanly possible, as there are a lot of trees in the UK and we need people from all corners to locate and record their ancient trees.

 

Before the project began there was no existing database of ancient trees and no real protection for them in the way that old buildings can be listed. The idea is to create a living map of unique records, containing photos, blogs and historical information on every individual tree recorded in the country. Wales is a country steeped in Celtic history and through the project we have been able to unlock some of those stories and meet fascinating individuals. In Wales so far we have recorded a grand total of 1,559 trees.

 

The people

The volunteer verifiers are the heartbeat of the project – every record added by a member of the public has to be verified. Rob McBride is one such individual who has visited sites across north Wales and Cheshire to verify records. You may wonder why people would even consider becoming a verifier in their spare time with no real incentives other than plenty of fresh air and walking. Rob explains why he got involved:

 

In 2004 I was very poorly and was prescribed fresh air and exercise by my GP. At this time I also met Shaun Burkey, a conservation officer from Shropshire County Council, who enrolled me as a tree warden. The Ancient Tree Hunt has enabled me to learn more about how fantastically special these ancient trees are. Their value for biodiversity is virtually unequalled.

 

I see the landscape in a completely different way now. There are some fantastic old hedgerow pollards very close to a factory where I worked for over 20 years. Before being involved in the ATH I had not even noticed them! This very special area is called Ridley Wood, or Is Y Coed. I was puzzled to see that some of the hollow trees have concrete inside them, until a local farmer, who is 80 years old, explained it to me. During the Second World War there was a massive munitions factory here. The trees were filled with concrete to prevent incendiary bombs falling inside them and setting them ablaze – a dangerous prospect so close to the factory!

 

Other peculiar specimens Rob has discovered include an oak pollard nearly 10m in girth at the ‘Gate of the Dead.’ The field opposite this tree is believed to be the site of a 12th century battle where English forces were ambushed and defeated by the Welsh. It is said that the field has never been ploughed since and contains bodies from the battle. Nearby is a 7m oak called ‘the duelling tree’ where duels were once fought.

 

The trees

Public involvement is crucial in any nationwide project and so looking after recorders is all part of the role of the verifier. Earlier this year a letter was received from a woman in Monmouthshire who described a tree in the garden of the house she had lived in "for most of my 95 years". The volunteer verifier in the area, Tom Seymour, paid her a visit and ended up spending the afternoon sitting in front of her 100 year old range drinking cups of tea. She turned out to be a member of the Gaia Society and the International Tree Foundation to boot!

 

Lichens

Mature and veteran trees host some fantastic lichens in parts of Wales where the air is clean, away from industrial pollutants. Old trees seen in the Elan Valley drip with lichen, making them resemble a character from The Lord of the Rings. One important lichen which relies on old growth is the tree lungwort Lobaria pulmonaria (Natur Cymru 24), with a cabbage-like surface featuring protruding veins, much like our own lungs, and once used to treat lung diseases. This very important lichen may disappear in time if we don't look after our old trees.

 

Involving landowners

The project has also been making great strides with landowners, many of whom may initially be reluctant to get involved. The crucial point to communicate is that the database is merely a recording tool. Adding records does not automatically mean that landowners will then be forced to maintain the trees or have the details passed onto third parties. The Ancient Tree Hunt wants to help landowners and advise them on best practices so that we can maintain these magnificent specimens long into the future.

 

One such landowner in Wales is Andy Kehoe, who owns a 120 acre farm near Bangor. There are 15-20 trees on the estate which may date back to the 1600s. The farm has been in his family for over 150 years and has been passed down through the generations. Andy explains:

 

These trees provide a link from the past to the present and future generations. And if one of my family takes over the farm after me, that link will continue into the future. My uncle used to say that some of these trees were standing at the time when Cromwell’s troops fought a battle down on the coast at Abergwyngregyn over 300 years ago.

 

With three years left to run, the project should continue to flourish, but this depends on the support of the public, partners and landowners. With another estimated 75,000 trees to add to the database, there are plenty out there waiting to be discovered, which is why we want your help. For more information visit the Ancient Tree Hunt website: www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk or call 08452 935 581.

 

Chris Hickman is the Ancient Tree Hunt project assistant with Coed Cadw – The Woodland Trust.