23 November 2007
Wales' newest ancient tree spotted, in the Senedd building!
Willow woven ancient tree sculpture appears at the Assembly to mark National Tree Week, and draw attention to the Ancient Tree Hunt
An almost full size ancient tree sculpture, created by artist Beryl Smith, from Llanidloes, is appearing at the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff between the 22 and 26 November, to mark National Tree Week (1), and to encourage everyone to take part in the Ancient Tree Hunt by recording at least one ancient tree.
Sponsored by the Assembly’s Presiding Officer, Dafydd Elis Thomas, the tree’s appearance is organised by Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust), the UK’s leading woodland charity, as part of the Ancient Tree Hunt, a project that aims to involve thousands of people in finding and mapping all the fat, old trees across the UK.
Dafydd Elis Thomas says: "I have lived in and around ancient woodland all my life, and especially now I get to run and walk through them every week. They are such wonderful habitat for all the food-chain especially bird-life. Near Betws y Coed flycatchers arrive annually in the great oaks and beeches to feed on insects above the gorge of the River Conwy, and from the Coed Cadw ancient woodlands around Dinas Powys green woodpeckers feed on anthills in the back garden. I wouldn't want it any other way, and we all have to do our bit for our woodland habitats."
Beryl Smith, a willow and wood artist from Llanidloes, who made the tree, says: “My inspiration comes from a passion and love for all trees and especially ancient ones. It was great to be commissioned to do a project like this for the Woodland Trust. I’m thrilled that people around the whole of the country are getting to see it. I just hope it makes people think a bit more about trees and how important they are to all of us.”
The UK has more ancient trees than any other country in Northern Europe, but amazingly we don’t know where they are! The Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw) is asking everyone to join the Ancient Tree Hunt, recording the trees they find and their stories online at www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk – or www.helfacoedhynafol.org.uk
Anyone from kids to adults can take part, by finding living history in their parks and gardens and helping the Woodland Trust to create the first interactive map of our ancient trees, as an important step towards safeguarding these very British treasures. It’s simple to do, too, you just find your tree and hug it! The fatter it is, the older it is.
Lea Hughes of Coed Cadw adds: “We are asking people who record trees to tell us how fat they are, because the age of a tree is related to its girth. If you don’t have a tape measure, you can estimate the diameter of a tree by the number of adults it takes to hug it, finger tip to finger tip. If it’s three people or more, then your tree is very old!”
Ancient trees are home to thousands of species of plants and animals, including many rare and threatened species that aren’t found anywhere else. As they get older, the trees develop holes, nooks and crannies and dead and rotting wood, perfect homes for lots of insects. Groups of ancient trees growing together are the most important of all as the variety of nooks and crannies they provide creates an amazing community of wildlife.
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 Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Scottish Natural Heritage and supported by the Forestry Commission; and will be 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.
ends
Images
A larger sized version of this image can be viewed and downloaded here
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. The Tree Council’s annual tree planting celebration, National Tree Week (21st November to 3rd December 2007), began in 1975 and has seen over 20 million trees planted since. It’s the ideal opportunity to do one great thing for the environment – plant a tree – and bring about a myriad of benefits, many of which will have long term impact in times of climate uncertainty.
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.
