Volunteers needed to help the venerable trees of Savernake Forest

The Forestry Commission looks after Savernake Forest and it urgently needs volunteers to help it look after the forest’s most venerable trees.

The first call for volunteers involves the forest’s 5,000 or so ‘veteran trees’.  Although many of these trees are many hundreds of years old – one or two even a thousand years old – the term ‘veteran’ for trees does not just signify great age.

Some of these veteran trees may be unique specimens of their species or of special size.  They all need ‘haloing’, which means clearing away the undergrowth from beneath their canopy.

This undergrowth competes with the veterans for vital nutrients and moisture in the soil and if they are deprived for too long of these essentials, the veterans will die. And that would change for ever the forest so cherished by walkers, bird watchers, photographers and tree lovers.

The volunteer scheme is being organised by the Forestry Commission’s Recreation Ranger for Savernake, Dan Charlesworth.  He has been doing this job for a month – previously he was working in a similar role north of Winchester.

The Recreation Ranger works with the Beat Forester for Bristol and Savernake, Thomas Blythe. Dan has responsibility for anything that involves people and the forest: pathways, cycle tracks, volunteer groups, play areas and so on.

Dan’s first volunteer session will be on Monday, July 7.  Volunteers should meet at the Postern Hill Car Park at 9.00 am – post code: SN8 4ND and OS Grid Ref: SU198679.  The session will last until 1.00 pm.  Further sessions are scheduled fortnightly: July 21 and August 4 and 18.

This work is being done in parallel with the re-surveying of veterans with GPS mapping.  This will identify where the remedial work is most needed.

For more information contact Dan on 07831 888272 or daniel.charlesworth@forestry.gsi.gov.uk