24 July 2007
The search for Wales' ancient trees brings together Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson, and Rupert Bear!
The race is on to find companions for the Pontfadog Oak, the Llangernyw Yew and the Talley Abbey Ash
Jane Davidson AM, the recently appointed Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in the Welsh Assembly Government, has shared a platform with Rupert Bear at the Royal Welsh Show. And what’s more, both appeared next to a full-sized willow-woven sculpture of a hollow ancient tree! The event took place as the Wales launch 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.
Ancient treasure is waiting to be found across Wales, much of it even older than many of our cathedrals and castles. What is it? Ancient trees, which can live to be up to 5000 years old – some of the oldest living things on the planet. The UK has more of these treasures 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 Rupert Bear is leading the Hunt for younger children, and he will be appearing at the launch.
Jane Davidson AM said: “I am very pleased that Coed Cadw has managed to establish the Ancient Tree Hunt, in order to compile a comprehensive inventory of where our ancient trees are, as the first step towards protecting and caring for them. I’m delighted also that both the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission are supporting the project in different ways, and in particular that the involvement of the CCW is enabling Coed Cadw to make the project website bilingual in English and Welsh.”
Jerry Langford, Director of Coed Cadw in Wales, said: “We’re delighted that Jane Davidson has been able to come along to launch the Ancient Tree Hunt here in Wales, and we’re very grateful for the support of the WCVA, CCW and the Forestry Commission Wales. I would, however, like to challenge everyone here today to join the thousands of other ancient tree hunters and go out and find at least one ancient tree and to register it on the Ancient Tree Hunt website. It’s easy to do, and you’ll be taking part in what is a really important project for the future of our ancient trees.”
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.
Most of these trees have no protection other than the good will of the landowners whose land they are on, and the Woodland Trust is therefore very keen work with these landowners.
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 Welsh 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
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
Notes for editors
Among the most notable of Wales’ ancient trees are:
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.
Visit www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk to
- Find an ancient tree near you
- Record an ancient tree or add stories and photos to the ancient tree blogs
- Follow the magic to the Rupert Bear Tree Hunting web area for young hunters
RUPERT BEAR
Rupert Bear is leading the hunt for old, fat trees with pre-school nurseries and their families. Identifying how many children’s ‘bear hugs’ it takes to encircle a tree trunk will indicate its age, the fatter the tree, the older it is. A keen conservationist, Rupert and friends have many magical adventures in their treehouse set within the oldest, fattest tree in Nutwood. Watch out for Rupert Bear on Five’s Milkshake everyday. Follow the magic to www.rupertbear.com to log your ‘Rupert bear hug’ and register for a pre-school nursery pack bursting full of Rupert nature trails and activities. Children are able to create their own adventures from Nutwood with a collection of toys available in toy shops from September.
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.
PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
ANCIENT TREE FORUM
The Ancient Tree Forum aims to secure the long-term future of ancient trees by calling for no further loss of ancient trees, good management of ancient trees, the development of a succession of future ancient trees. In addition the Forum and its members seek to raise awareness and understanding of the value and importance of ancient trees.
ESMEE FAIRBAIRN FOUNDATION
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grant making foundations in the UK. It makes grants in four programme areas: Arts & Heritage, Education, Environment and Social Change: Enterprise and Independence. The Foundation also takes initiatives itself where it believes important opportunities remain unexplored. In 2007 it expects to make grants of £29 million across the UK. For further information please visit www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk
HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. They fund the entire spread of heritage - including buildings, museums, natural heritage and the heritage of cultural traditions and language.
Since 1994 the HLF has awarded over £3.6 billion to more than 22,500 projects across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, helping open up our heritage for everyone to enjoy.
THE TREE REGISTER OF THE BRITISH ISLES
The Tree Register is a registered charity collating and updating a database of notable trees throughout Britain and Ireland. It provides information on the size and growth of trees which is not available from any other source. It includes historical records taken from reference works going back more than 200 years. The Tree Register organises a volunteer network of over 50 tree measurers who update historical records and discover over 2,000 new trees worthy of inclusion each year. Their patron is HRH Prince of Wales. Learn more at www.treeregister.org
