2 May 2008
One man's mission to find the hidden treasures of the Marches
Ancient tree hunter to walk the entire length of Offa’s Dyke
Rob McBride, a volunteer for the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Hunt, is to walk the entire length of Offa’s Dyke in an attempt to discover and record as many ancient trees as he can along the remains of this 8th century embankment.
The Offa's Dyke footpath has a total length of about 177 miles, but Rob expects to walk a bit further to account for the detours as he wanders off-track to find ancient trees where he can legally do so.
Formerly a software engineer, Rob got involved with the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, in late 2004 after his GP prescribed him ‘fresh air and exercise’ to overcome a difficult period in his life.
So Rob started volunteering for Shropshire County Council Countryside Service. He was soon introduced to the world of ancient trees, since when he has never looked back. He became voluntary verifier with the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Hunt, a project that aims to involve thousands of people in finding and mapping all the fat, old trees across the UK. Last year he won the Woodland Trust’s Volunteer of the Year award.
Rob explains the background to his Offa’s Dyke walk: “From experience of looking for and mapping ancient trees in north Shropshire, we’re finding some pretty distinctive trees within half a mile of Offa’s Dyke. People talk about oaks being left as markers along parish boundaries. Maybe these trees are marking the ancient boundary between England and Wales.”
As Rob undertakes his epic walk along the English-Welsh border, those who find ancient trees are now able to register them in Welsh as well as in English, as the Ancient Tree Hunt website is now functioning bilingually in English and Welsh at: www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk or www.helfacoedhynafol.org.uk
You can also use the site to find ancient trees near you or to add stories and photos to the ancient tree blogs. The site will also include updates of Rob McBride’s Offa’s Dyke walk.
Ancient trees are waiting to be found across England and Wales, many of them even older than many of our cathedrals and castles. Some ancient trees are believed to live up to 5000 years old – they are some of the oldest living things on the planet. The UK probably has more of these treasures than any other country in Northern Europe, but amazingly we don’t know where they are!
The Ancient Tree Hunt is a five-year project, led by Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust) in partnership with the Ancient Tree Forum and the Tree Register of the British Isles. It is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action, Scottish Natural Heritage and supported by the Forestry Commission and is working with local partners across the UK. Joining the Hunt are the Tree Council, The Caravan Club, The National Trust, English Heritage, Forestry Commission and HM Prison Service, over 100 regional and local groups, and many landowners.
For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 01766 832563 or 07760 171174 Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
Or The Woodland Trust Press Office email media@woodland-trust.org.uk or Tel 01476 581121
Editor’s Notes
1. Rob McBride hopes to meet up with local naturalists along the way. Anyone wishing to make contact should ring 01766 832563 or email roryfrancis@woodlandtrust.org.uk
2. A short video of Rob McBride looking for ancient trees, but not at Offa’s Dyke, can be seen on youtube
3. Among the most notable of Wales’ ancient trees are:
The Oak at ‘The Gate of the Dead’
Just one mile from Offa’s Dyke, this wonderful old tree has a girth of 10 metres. You can see Rob McBride visiting on youtube
The Pontfadog Oak, at Pontfadog near Chirk, Wrexham
Wales’ largest sessile oak, this tree has a girth of 42 feet 5 in (12.9m). It was such an icon in the landscape even 12th century that Owain Gwynedd rallied his army to it and went on to defeat Henry ll at the battle of Crogan a mile away.
The Llangernyw Yew, Llangernyw, Conwy
This ancient yew, in the churchyard of St Digain’s church, Llangernyw, Conwy, is believed to be over 3,000 years old, meaning that it would already have been a distinguished veteran when the Romans arrived in Wales. This tree is probably the oldest living thing in Wales.
The Talley Abbey Ash, Carmarthenshire
This giant of a tree is probably the oldest ash tree in Britain. It stands in a hedgerow within the grounds of the picturesque ruins of Talley Abbey, in the care of Cadw. So gnarled is the trunk that it is difficult to measure its girth, but this is probably around 36 feet (11m).
The Bettws Newydd Yew, Monmouthshire
There are three old yew trees in the churchyard of Bettws Newydd, but it is the largest which is the most notable. Like most yews of a great age, the tree is entirely hollow.
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s awareness and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.coed-cadw.org.uk The Trust adopted its Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
