Acorns - gather seeds from an ancient oak and grow your own this autumn Photo WTPL/Christine Sutton
Anyone who walks through their local forest or woodland at this time of year will be familiar with the temptation to pick up conkers, acorns and ash keys to play games like conker fighting and helicopters.
Now Britain’s leading woodland charity, the Woodland Trust is launching the Acorns for Ancients project to encourage people to keep these seeds and plant them, ensuring Britain’s ancient trees have healthy descendents.
As part of National Seed Gathering month, beginning on September 23 2008, the Woodland Trust and the Tree Council have launched the scheme alongside the Ancient Tree Hunt, an initiative led by the Trust along with several other environmental and heritage charities.
“Looking for ancient trees in your area from which to gather seeds is really important,” said Ancient Tree Hunt project manager Nikki Williams.
The Major oak, Nottinghamshire. Photo:WTPL / Nikki Williams
“Seeds that come from local trees belong to a tree family that’s already accustomed to the type of soil and climate where you live. Ancient trees have already proved they can live for a long time, so it’s a good idea to collect from them.”
The Woodland Trust has over 300,000 members and aims to prevent any further loss of ancient woodland and increase people’s understanding and enjoyment of forests and wooded areas.
There are three main threats to the survival of ancient trees in Britain. Many are cut down as they are seen as dangerous or untidy, trees are also often removed for development and agriculture. There is also competition from surrounding trees, both planted and naturally occurring.
Ash keys - gather seeds from an ancient ash and grow your own this autumn. Photo WTPL/Peter Holmes
Through the Ancient Tree Hunt, the Woodland Trust aims to record 100,000 ancient trees within five years. Already 20,000 have been recorded on the Ancient Tree Hunt website. It is hoped, by keeping track of the location and other details of the trees the trust can become even more effective in protecting them.
For the Acorns for Ancients project nature lovers are encouraged to plant the seeds and write about them on the Ancient Tree Hunt website, recording how their tree has grown. The site also provides information about how to plant and nurture your seeds. Tips for where to find ancient tree your area are also available.
In some cases people are advised to plant a specific seed, grown in their locality. For example one focus of the project this year is Ashdown Forest, the woodland made famous by AA Milne as the setting of his Winnie the Pooh books.
The Bowthorpe oak. Lincolnshire. Photo: WTPL/Ted Green
Visitors to the home of the famous Pooh sticks bridge are being asked to collect seeds from the Broadstone Warren beech along with seeds from other ancient trees in the area.
To find out more about which trees are in your area visit www.ancient-tree-hunting.org.uk.
