 People who are passionate about Dorset's veteran trees gathered at Kingston Lacy to promote the protection of these ancient county residents. The Dorset Greenwood Tree Project, launched last August, is a Heritage Lottery funded initiative, backed by a partnership of organisations to record, survey and conserve the county's ancient and veteran trees. Dorset is thought to have one of the largest and most widespread collections in England, and yet very few records exist to prove this. Since the start of the project, community groups and volunteers have been trained to undertake surveys of veteran trees across the county. The project has advised on and organised sympathetic management of old trees; in some cases the trees might otherwise have been cut down.
Delegates were able to inspect many ancient trees on the National Trust estate and to learn about the last remnants of Europe's rain forest from visiting experts.
Emma Brawn, Dorset Greenwood Tree Project Officer, said: "I am really pleased with the enthusiasm for Dorset veteran trees. It was brilliant to bring together a huge variety of people from different backgrounds who want to learn how we can secure the long term future of these important trees."
The Dorset Greenwood Tree Project partnership includes Dorset Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Dorset AONB, Dorset Environmental Records Centre, Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and North Dorset District Council. The project is being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with contributions from the AONB Sustainable Development Fund, as well as the Dorset County Council, and is working alongside The Woodland Trust's current 'Ancient Tree Hunt'.
To get involved with recording and protecting Dorset's veteran trees, see www.dorsetwildlife.co.uk or contact Emma Brawn on 01305 264620.
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