16th November 2016
Book review: Ancient Trees of the National Trust
The National Trust is Europe’s largest private custodian of ancient trees. This new book features iconic trees in their care like the Ankerwycke Yew, and the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ tree, as well as properties across England, Wales and Northern Ireland which are rich in ancient and other veteran trees. Ted Green, ATF’s founder president, reviews Ancient Trees of the National Trust, co-authored by ATF trustee Brian Muelaner, and photographer Edward Parker.
This is a welcome addition both to books about ancient and other veteran trees, and to the National Trust’s shops, where it will illustrate to members and visitors the wealth of our living heritage. Brian’s informative, well-researched descriptions of the estates as well as the trees and their biodiversity, will almost certainly encourage visitors to look beyond the well-tended landscape gardens and houses, their art treasures and other man-made features. Eddie’s excellent pictures will no doubt also inspire visitors to look at the magnificence, beauty and history of the natural world beyond the garden gate.
26th July 2016
The ATF welcomes its new Chair
Russell Miller, the new Chair of the Ancient Tree Forum, introduces himself and sets out his hopes for the future of the charity
I was very excited when I discovered the Ancient Tree Forum and attended my first field meeting. It was like joining a group of like-minded friends I didn’t know I had. I was therefore intrigued when ATF advertised for a new chair and very honoured to be asked to try and fill Brian Muelaner’s shoes.
18th July 2016
First meeting of ATF Cumbria takes place in Geltsdale
Ian Jack, co-ordinator of the new Ancient Tree Forum Cumbria group, joined the members for their first field event this June.
The Cumbria chapter of the ATF had its inaugural meeting on a beautiful spring day in June at the magnificent pasture woodlands of Geltsdale in the foothills of the Northern Cumbria Pennines. The day was ably lead by Iris Glimmerveen who has been associated with these woodlands for the last nineteen years.
The pasture woodlands at Geltsdale are in a truly wonderful setting and Iris is clearly at one with all that these woodlands represent and laid on a day which will be well remembered by all who participated.
The theme of the day was ‘trees within trees’ and Iris began by explaining how one of the amazing features of Geltsdale is how Rowan trees often seed themselves into niches in Alders and these two trees then age together. The Rowan does not live off the Alder but with it, both trees occupying the same space. The Rowan puts down aerial roots which helps in time to give the whole structure a fantastical appearance. Eventually the Alder succumbs to age and withers leaving the Rowan to act out a solitary role as it too becomes ancient.
17th May 2016
My time at the top
Brian Muelaner
Brian Muelaner reflects on his six years leading the Ancient Tree Forum, in advance of stepping down as Chair at July’s summer forum, when Russell Miller will take on the role.
It’s hard to believe that it’s six years since I ‘volunteered’ to take on the role of Chair for the ATF. I remember a conversation I had with Neville Fay shortly before becoming Chair, as if it were yesterday. Nev had been chairing the ATF since time began, so naturally I turned to him to get some idea of what level of commitment I was letting myself in for. Nev kindly reassured me that all that it was more of a figurehead, and only involved chairing the two board meetings each year and writing the odd letter or two and the Chair’s annual report to Companies house. And for some reason I believed him!
It turned out to involve a little more than that, but it’s been an incredible honour and privilege and one of the most fulfilling roles with which I’ve had the good fortune to be involved. What’s been achieved over the past six years is quite mind boggling, all made possible by a massive team effort. One of the great strengths of the ATF is the enthusiasm, knowledge, skills and commitment of its extended board, the Trustees, the Co-opted members and our limited staff.
27th January 2016
Towards a wood pasture and parkland inventory
ancient ash in wood pasture at Kedleston Park
An inventory of valuable wood pastures and parkland would help us to conserve and restore this nationally important habitat and help us plan them into resilient landscapes.
As a step towards building an inventory, Natural England in partnership with the Woodland Trust and the Ancient Tree Forum have put together three datasets. The dataset commissioned by Natural England was a desktop compilation of historic parkland plus an analysis of aerial photographs available on Magic. The second is the Ancient Tree Inventory held by the Woodland Trust and now comprises over 150,000 ancient, veteran and notable trees. Finally a digitised layer of the sites known about by Ancient Tree Forum specialists.
28th October 2015
ATF field visit to the Lake District
The Ancient Tree Forum’s Autumn visit to the Lake District in early October centred on Borrowdale and Watendlath. Maurice Pankhurst, National Trust Woodland Ranger, and one of the leading ancient pollard managers in the UK, led the tour.
Report by Hannah Solloway
Oak pollard in Borrowdale
The day began by a centuries-old lapsed oak pollard near the National Trust’s Bowe Barn, now partially hidden under some Douglas Fir, and only discovered in recent years. Maurice explained that with its history of mining and intensive management, there was a high demand for wood in Borrowdale, which remains one of the most treed valleys in the Lake District.
24th June 2015
Study tour of Romanian wood pastures
Romanian wood pasture
Blog by Suzanne Perry
The wood pastures in Romania are rumoured to be interesting, but nothing prepared us for the scale and diversity of what we were to encounter during a four day visit to southern Transylvania.
The UK Wood pasture and parkland Technical Advisory Group, and supporters of the Ancient Tree Forum visited five different wood pasture sites in this region of Romania in mid-May. Among the group were representatives from the National Trust, Natural Resources Wales, Natural England and the City of London Corporation.
20th March 2015
Good practice in veteran tree management rolls out across Europe
‘ Valuing and managing veteran trees’ training the trainer course, Epping, September 2014
The two year VETree project finished at the end of December 2014, after two very busy and successful years which have resulted in a range of training resources.
The main focus of the project was to devise and test training materials relating to valuing and managing veteran trees for use in the partner countries which were UK, Belgium, Sweden, Spain and Romania.
Amongst the achievements of the project are a set of nine videos on subjects important to the management of veteran trees, including two lectures from David Lonsdale. Topics include the management of pollards, halo clearance for veteran trees and techniques for crown reducing a veteran tree.
