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Kent Heritage Trees ProjectUseful information and how to get involved

WantedVolunteer tree champions

for local tree surVey

call 01233 666 519

Kent heritage tree factsKent has 10% of England’s ancient woodland •

(defined as land that has had continuous woodland cover since at least 1600).

There are over 46,000 hectares of woodland in •

Kent, including mixed and coniferous woodland. Of this 85% is native broad-leaved woodland and 53% is ancient semi-natural woodland.

8.5% of the county is designated as •

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Species of national or international concern found •

in Kent’s woodlands include the dormouse, heath fritillary butterfly, nightingale and lady orchid.

Ancient trees and woodlands are widely recognised •

as being irreplaceable habitats, but many are not protected through designation.

Many individual trees are protected by Tree •

Preservation Orders (TPOs).

The Kent Downs supports over 3% of the ancient •

woodland resource of England and Wales.

At present heritage trees have no legal protection •

and they are a very vulnerable heritage feature. It is essential that as many as possible of the remaining heritage trees in Kent are identified, protected and sympathetically managed.

What can I do? How can I get involved?Just a few hours of your time could help to conserve these old, magnificent trees.

The Conservation Volunteers are looking for volunteers and needs your help in finding and recording Kent’s heritage trees.

No previous experience is necessary as we will provide all registered volunteers with FREE training on tree related subjects.

All volunteers will be provided with the necessary survey equipment and tree identification guides.

During the course of this five year project, we will be organising guided walks, talks, community open days, tree planting events, creative art and photographic workshops, woodland wonder sessions for children and youth groups, a series of biodiversity and heritage ecology courses across Kent, and more…

To register or to find out more, please contact:

Kent Heritage Trees Officer, The Conservation VolunteersSingleton Environment Centre, Wesley School Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 5LW

T 01233 666519E kent-trees@tcv.org.ukwww.tcv.org.uk/kentheritagetrees

Heritage trees of Kent

Heritage trees (encompassing veteran and ancient trees) are amazing and an integral part of our natural heritage. They are the old trees

in woodland, parkland and the gnarled oaks in the hedgerows. Our ancestors valued these trees as vital assets, they were part of their subsistence and economy as well as objects of religious and social interest.

In modern-day Kent, few heritage trees are maintained and managed for their produce. Many more have been felled to make room for development, intensive agriculture and forestry or for safety reasons.

Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in these old trees. Their biological, historical and cultural importance is slowly being recognised, together with their aesthetic appeal and the unique contribution they make to the landscape.

These trees are as much a part of our heritage as stately homes, cathedrals and works of art and are the favoured subject of many important paintings and engravings.

What will the project do?Promote the value of heritage trees across Kent in •

terms of landscape, biodiversity and culture.

Interpret and celebrate heritage trees in their local •

landscape.

Identify, locate and record as many heritage trees as •

possible in Kent.

How do we recognise heritage trees?Trees are classed as heritage when they are no longer growing vigorously. There are no hard and fast rules to identifying them, but there are clues in their appearance.

Hollow trunks, rotting wood, lost bark and fungus are tell-tales of a tree growing slowly. Size alone is a poor charactertistic for recognising heritage trees. Different species of tree may grow to very different maximum sizes and can grow to very different sizes in different situations and conditions.

Where are they found?Heritage trees can be found in woodlands, parkland, hedgerows, village greens, churchyards and even some gardens. They can also be found marking parish boundaries or old track-ways.

Vital for wildlifeHeritage trees provide a vital home for wildlife, even some of our rarest insects. The holes and hollows found on heritage trees are important sites for nesting birds and roosting bats. Fungi are critical in the ecology of almost all of our wildlife associated with old trees and some are themselves rare and restricted to only the oldest of trees.

Links to our pastMany of these heritage trees have a story to tell, perhaps through their role in history or in local folklore. Some were used as meeting places and were land-marks for travellers.