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Little Green Space |
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Little Green Space |
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LITTLE GREEN SPACE Originally
published in the Peak Advertiser on 19 May 2008 We have just returned from a trip to Findhorn Bay in Scotland, where the excellent organisation Trees For Life (www.treesforlife.org.uk) is based. This award-winning charity is working to restore the Caledonian Forest, an enormous ancient woodland which once covered 1.5 million hectares in the Scottish Highlands. The Caledonian Forest was once home to an amazing array of different species such as lynx, wild boar and beaver, but now only 1 per cent of the forest remains. So far Trees For Life has planted over 600,000 trees, and hopes eventually to reintroduce some of the species that were once common in the area. Veteran trees Closer to home, we have now planted four oak trees at Hackney Leys, near Matlock. We recently had a phone call from a man named Ash. He had read about Little Green Space in the paper and wanted to donate more than 20 oak trees to the project. The trees have been grown from acorns gathered from "The Old Man of Calke" - an ancient tree at Derbyshire's Calke Abbey believed to be over a thousand years old. Some of the trees will be planted at local schools, others at Hackney Leys. What a brilliant start for the creation of our new native, broadleaved woodland. It is fantastic to think that these tiny saplings could also live for a thousand years. Talking of old trees, we have just discovered we have a "veteran tree" at Hackney Leys. The large ash tree where the tawny owl lives measures 3.45m around its trunk, making it eligible for status as a “Great Tree of Derbyshire”. This is a project being run by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, which hopes to identify ancient trees across the county. Many veteran trees have been lost during the last hundred years. One reason is that the old tradition of pollarding - removing some branches for building, tools or firewood, which in turn rejuvenates old trees - has largely died out. And so many such trees become neglected and die. Others are felled to make space for buildings. The loss of these great trees is also a loss for wildlife because old trees often have dead branches and large cavities, as well as dead wood on the ground, which provide a home for many different species. Invertebrates, especially, depend on this sort of habitat and their survival is being threatened by the loss of large trees. The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has already identified over 4000 veteran trees. If you think you have a veteran tree growing near you, contact Jo Brown at the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on 01773 881188 or enquiries@derbyshirewt.co.uk. For more information on Great Trees of Derbyshire, visit www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk Plant a tree It is not only large trees that are threatened. The UK’s tree population as a whole has been devastated by centuries of woodland clearance. Since the Second World War we have lost some 50 per cent of our lowland woods. The UK is now one of Europe’s least wooded countries, with only 10 per cent of land being covered with trees. Planting trees is a very positive thing to do. Trees provide habitats for wildlife and absorb the carbon dioxide that is so damaging to our fragile atmosphere. If you have space, why not plant your own native broadleaved tree? Ash, oak and beech are ideal, and could live for hundreds of years, giving pleasure to generations of people and a home to generations of creatures. Of course, if you only have a small garden, you are not going to want to plant an ash or oak tree, which could grow up to 20 metres tall. But you could consider a fruit tree. Many fruit trees are grown on dwarfing rootstocks, making them more manageable for small areas. We are planting up a small orchard area with apples, pears and cherries, to add to the mature – and highly productive – apple tree, plum tree and pear trees that already grow in the garden. Along with other sorts of tree, there has been a sharp decline in the number of orchards in recent years. Since 1950, Britain has lost over 50 per cent of its orchards, with most of the apples we eat being imported from places like China and South America. Fruit trees are just as important for wildlife as other trees, and provide a rich and varied habitat. Woodpeckers, redstarts and bats are all common in orchard areas, while insects such as bees and hoverflies feed on the nectar and pollen that fruit trees provide. So by planting a fruit tree, you will be doing your bit for habitat conservation. But do a little research first. For example, many varieties of apple trees, such as Cox’s Orange Pippin, will not thrive in our cold Peakland winters. It is best to visit a local tree nursery, which will advise you on suitable varieties for your area. We have just planted an eating apple called Katy – originally from Sweden, it should be able to cope with our climate! The best time to plant fruit trees is from November to March, but you can plant pot-grown trees year round so long as you are prepared to water them thoroughly during dry spells. And if you find yourself with a glut of apples this autumn, try making this tasty, easy chutney. Spiced Apple Chutney Ingredients: Method: Delicious
served with cold meats, sausages or cheese! Penny at Little Green Space |
