Ancient Trees in the UK (1 Viewer)

[DBK]

I've just come across an interesting website which lists ancient and notable trees around the UK. There doesn't seem to be a map but they are listed by region:

http://www.ancienttreeforum.co.uk/ancient-trees/ancient-tree-sites-to-visit/

Could be a useful site for identifying places to visit when you are touring in the UK.

 

[Podney]

Thanks for posting that. Interesting,I love trees,could happily be a hugger.

 

[Speve]

There’s one in savernake forest near Marlborough right by the side of the A338

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[MikeD]

A couple of years ago I bumped into a bloke measuring the circumference of all the trees around the Beacon near Dunstable.

He was carrying out a survey on Mature trees in the area and logging all of them.

Some people have very odd jobs.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Just think how many homeless people these trees could keep warm if they burnt them?
They are not doing much good standing there

 

[Debs]

I think I remember a rad 4 prog about the Tree Registrar & asking the public to let them know of any ancient trees.

There are some very old oaks not from from here that are in woodland but mark an old track that leads to a marker stone where people gathered to pay their taxes (so Ive been told). I suppose it would've been part of Sherwood Forest at some point.

Hadnt there used to be a 15min prog called 'Meetings with Remarkable Trees'?

Can you tell I'm a closet hugger

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[Stewart J]

Nice informative site with some notable omissions, our 6 year old grand-daughter stood in front of the oldest Yew, notice the chains and steel banding keeping it together. Wonderfull place which I have been priveledged to know for over 50 years.

https://www.ancient-yew.org/mi.php/the-beltingham-yews/76

 

[DBK]

I think I remember a rad 4 prog about the Tree Registrar & asking the public to let them know of any ancient trees.

There are some very old oaks not from from here that are in woodland but mark an old track that leads to a marker stone where people gathered to pay their taxes (so Ive been told). I suppose it would've been part of Sherwood Forest at some point.

Hadnt there used to be a 15min prog called 'Meetings with Remarkable Trees'?

Can you tell I'm a closet hugger

Yes, the programmes were based on the book by Thomas Pakenham which I've got but many of them are on private land. He also did a book on trees outside the UK.

 

[DBK]

Nice informative site with some notable omissions, our 6 year old grand-daughter stood in front of the oldest Yew, notice the chains and steel banding keeping it together. Wonderfull place which I have been priveledged to know for over 50 years.View attachment 287734 https://www.ancient-yew.org/mi.php/the-beltingham-yews/76

You need to let then know about them.

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[Baileysbus]

Might be worth a look here too when you’re up north again

 

[pappajohn]

I'd put money on most of them being hollow.
They seem to get so big then while they continue to grow outside they rot inside.

 

[Snowbird]

There is a Yew in the churchyard where the maternal side of my family is at rest that is over 1000 years old. St Marys Astbury, near Congleton.

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[Glandwr]

I've got the Pakenham book too and 10/15 years ago "bagged" a few. Impressive huge beech hedge along the A9 in Scotland is one I remember and the ancient weeping ash? behind the orangery in Margam park magical to stand inside on an early summer day. Although on second thoughts that might not have been in the book worth seeing though.

 

[grasscutter]

Love old trees.
Fantastic example in a local churchyard.

 

[Nirvanauk]

I'd put money on most of them being hollow.
They seem to get so big then while they continue to grow outside they rot inside.

Just had an huge yew removed from my garden much to toe horror of the villagers. It was as rotten as hell inside and dangerous but they couldn’t see that.

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[Nirvanauk]

What defines an ancient tree as opposed to just bein old..?

 

[DBK]

I've got the Pakenham book too and 10/15 years ago "bagged" a few. Impressive huge beech hedge along the A9 in Scotland is one I remember and the ancient weeping ash? behind the orangery in Margam park magical to stand inside on an early summer day. Although on second thoughts that might not have been in the book worth seeing though.

I've seen the beech hedge in Scotland, cut every two or three years I think using cherry pickers.

I looked at trying to put together a UK trip visiting some of the Pakenham trees but then I realised many of them were not open to the public. As a peer I don't think he had much trouble visiting stately homes. I'm sure with organisation it could be done but it would be easier using this website as they are all open to the unwashed like me.

 

[DBK]

What defines an ancient tree as opposed to just bein old..?

I don't think there's a specific age like the definition of an antique having to be 100 years old. I guess it just means a mature tree which has a certain palpable presence which marks it out from any other trees near it. The criteria might include girth, height of course but also just the overall form. These trees I snapped on Dartmoor with my phone a few weeks ago and I think they are pretty impressive especially the one in the distance but not quite enough for them to be on anyone's list yet perhaps.

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[DBK]

I've just created a new resource using the links posted above - hope no one minds my theft.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/resources/ancient-trees-in-the-uk.256/

@Jim I've put it in the MHF category as I couldn't think of where else to put it. Please move it or create a new category (UK Touring?) as you see fit.

 

[Debs]

@DBK John, this is linked to what I mentioned yesterday I think

https://www.treeregister.org/

Edit - just realised theres a subscription

 

[Nirvanauk]

Does this count? It’s a sweet chestnut, taken in the Yorkshire Arboretum about an hour ago.

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[DBK]

@DBK John, this is linked to what I mentioned yesterday I think

https://www.treeregister.org/

Edit - just realised theres a subscription

Thanks, just added it with a note about the subscription.

 

[Stewart J]

Passed St Cuthberts in Bellingham this afternoon so called in for a few photo close ups the the oldest yew. The area has a very interesting history, 2 photos are countless grooves on corners of church walls. These go back to the days of the Border Reivers when thin straight Yew branches were highly sought after for arrow shafts, these were sharpened on the sandstone walls and over time formed the grooves. Fascinating stuff.

 

[kevenh]

What defines an ancient tree as opposed to just bein old..?

I've forgotten my reference, but as there are no area of trees in the UK that us humans haven't been playing the woodsman with, one thing our about our ancient woodlands that we do know is it just means that it was last altered by a human a long time ago

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[MikeD]

A couple of years ago whilst out hunting for Orchids I met a couple who measured and recorded all the local "large" trees.

We were in the Chiltern hills at the time.

 

[PhilMary]

A couple of years ago I bumped into a bloke measuring the circumference of all the trees around the Beacon near Dunstable.

He was carrying out a survey on Mature trees in the area and logging all of them.

Some people have very odd jobs.

I know the bloke who's job was to walk along the canal and write down where ever tree was.
The only problem with creating jobs like this is this bloke couldn't read a map and frequently got lost along with the slight problem that the only tree he recognised was off the local pub sign , The Oak.
Phil