27th July 2023
Essex ATF Local Group: Field Trip to Weald Country Park- 27 May 2023
We decided to start relatively early so there would be enough car parking, only to discover there was a park run including the exact W3W location we’d chosen for the meet! Not to worry, as is the nature of running, they weren’t there for long, so our group assembled without too much strife.
ATF Essex inaugural event
Image credit: James Chambers
We had a great turn out of over 40 people, mostly arbs (many of whom are friends!) but also quite a few interested non-arbs, just as we’d hoped. It’s our clear aim to invite and encourage everyone who has even the most basic appreciation of and interest in veteran trees to come along and enjoy a walk and talk around looking at a range of wonderful specimens.
It was lovely to finally meet Bob Warnock in person, he has been instrumental in helping us set up a new ATF local group and reach out to so many people to join us.
So, after the group had gathered, we’d introduced ourselves and did a bit of housekeeping (and the runners had disappeared over the horizon) we ventured into the woods and found a lovely old veteran lime tree, surrounded by a recently planted hawthorn ‘security hedge’ around the dripline.
This prompted a quick discussion about how decay and deadwood in trees used to be considered dangerous and or unsightly, with veteran trees actually being removed in the past for reasons which would now be realised as unjustified.
Our walk moved on past some wonderful trees, barely time to look at a lovely old Monterey Pine and a variety of false acacias, indicating some planting had been undertaken here in the past, before we got to a very tall hornbeam just off the main path. When I say very tall, it may actually be the tallest hornbeam in the country! (NB. No actual measurements or comparisons have been made, so if you question this assertion you are invited to visit the tree yourself and work it out!).
We were very glad to be joined by Ecologist Duncan Fisher who provided some fascinating insight into the range of invertebrates that were likely to be present across the park, and the importance of ‘connections’ – sources of water and nectar – which are crucial for environmental factors for a wide variety of invertebrates.
Image Credits: Russell Miller
While we were listening to Duncan, Russell Miller briefly detained a wasp beetle to show the attendees! Later in the day Russell went on to confirm 31 species of beetle at the park!
There were lots of interesting discussions about various wonderful trees as we continued our walk, and before long we reached a huge old oak pollard that had required some very interesting bespoke management a few years back.
Jim Curry describes the steps taken to protect this tree from fire
Image Credit: Matt Searle
This hollow tree had previously had a fire set inside, which a hole in the lower stem had effectively created a ‘chimney’ effect, fanning the flames. Jim Curry related the story of how following that he had climbed into the trunk and used chicken wire to block the lower hole as well as filling the trunk with damp wood chip to prevent further fires. Happily, the tree is still doing remarkably well!
Walking hornbeam
Credit: Matt Searle
A little later we got to the fantastic ‘walking hornbeam’ where Geoff Clack told us the question he likes to ask people seeing the tree for the first time is ‘how many trees are here?’. He then described the process by which this remarkable tree had ‘walked’ across the park, repeatedly failing and then producing a new stem time and again over the years.
’Apatosaurus’ hornheam
Image Credit: James Chambers (July 2021)
One sad item during the walk was to confirm that the wonderful ‘apatosaurus’ hornbeam pictured above had recently succumbed to the forces of gravity and collapsed. It’s still there but in a rearranged state (thanks very much, Isaac Newton!), and will no doubt provide different habitat values over the coming years.
Ganoderma lucidum fungal fruit body, sample, and spore tube count (James Chambers) and spores under a microscope (David Humphries)
Image credit: James Chambers & David Humphries
Russell spotted what we suspected to be a fungal fruit body of the rare species Ganoderma lucidum – on an old hornbeam tree. In order to confirm our identification I took a small sample away. My fellow ATI Verfier, Basil Watkins, kindly advised that G. lucidum usually has about 5 spore tubes per mm, and after I measured that I sent the sample to another friend (and ATI Verifier) David Humphries who confirmed the size and shape of spores were correct with his microscope!
We were pleased to advise the park manager of this rare find.
Image Credit: James Chambers
Our long tree walk continued a little further and we found another old tree which had recently failed. Perhaps the most remarkable consideration about this failure was the fact that the tree had fallen entirely within the protective fencing positioned to deter the public from the danger zone! Isn’t nature amazing?!
Image credit: Bo Chapman
So, the first ATF Essex event was a remarkable success, and with huge thanks to everyone who attended, we are very pleased to announce that the next ATF Essex event will be happening at Thorndon Country Park on Saturday August 12th.
We hope to see you there, please tell anyone who might be interested, all are welcome!
James Chambers
