Jill has her first response to her request for other’s experiences of iron eating trees. Here is a good example sent in by Adam Roberts from Leckford Arboretum. 
Any other examples out there? The quirkier the better…..
Another ironivorous tree
Starting new pollards the basque way
Ted watches Samuel - one of his basque arborist friends cutting a young ash tree to start a new pollard. And the cut material will be hung up to dry to become fodder for the animals later in the winter. This tree is in a young plantation and Ted’s idea is that the trees in these dense plantations should be cut as pollards for wood fuel or for fodder. This opens up the canopy and allows grazing underneath – two tier agriculture or agro-forestry.
How did this tree stand up to the 1987 gale?
Jill looks at the vast crown and size of this ancient hollow tree that stands on about half a dozen ‘legs’. How did it withstand the 1987 gale and subsequent high winds? Its breathtaking.
Kneel down and look up to royalty
If ever there is royalty – this is it. This tree is one of the oldest in the world and associated with it is the Royal oak polypore – I’ve added the Royal to its name because its always associated with ancient oak in royal Forest landscapes. Its one of the very few protected species on the Wildlife and Countryside Act schedules but that only prevents one from picking the fungus and selling it. In this case the tree cannot be protected as it would be exempt from the TPO legislation. Strange isnt it when the fungus is protected but its habitat cant be. And the tree plus the fungus is so, so special……
Iron eating trees
Have you spotted this ironivorous phenomenon anywhere? This tree is so hungry that it is eating the metal bit of an old bill hook. I wonder what it did with the owner……One day this metal will be completely engulfed by the tree and then woe betide the chainsaw operator that tries to cut it down. A lovely bit of tree archaeology like the bicycle eating tree in the Trossachs http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6U8J98
Join the Limewoods Working Group
Jill and Ted joined in for a day with the newly formed Limewood Working Group for a visit to Shrawley Wood in Worcestershire. Here they all are looking at a massive old lime stool. What else! Interested in what they do? Then post us a message.
What’s in clover?
The Knepp free range Tamworth pigs of course. Look how they love the clover especially the flower heads.
What it takes to record special trees
James Wong is on the ropes
Thats where they have to get to
Ancient yew - what a cliff hanger
A few weeks ago, I was out with the BBC Countryfile Team watching volunteer tree recorder, Rob McBride, test his courage over the side of a limestone cliff. His objective? to measure the girth of an ancient yew clinging onto the side of this wall of rock. Specialists have said that this yew could be thousands of years old and it is a nursery for other trees such as whitebeam, holly and elder. If you missed the film go to www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk – we bought the clip from the BBC for future enjoyment! Or click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP-0UAhCQZs Am I glad that I didnt have to hang out for ancient trees over that drop!
A prize every time
Do you use Twitter to tweet your tree discoveries? Are you a Facebook fanatic who wants to become one of our fans? Are you a regular tree hunter who records lots of trees?
Then we have some gifts of gratitude to share – click to find out what you can get your hands on
Walking oaks
The Panshanger Oak in Hertfordshire is a mighty oak. It is an amazing example of a walking tree – one of its limbs has touched the ground and is layering. In time the branch will take root and a new tree will be established at this point. This process is called layering – a practice commonly used by gardeners and was used once by traditional coppicers to create new coppice stools. The Panshanger Oak is near Hatfield and is on a private estate managed by Lefarge – the aggregates company. I am not sure how you get permission to go and see it.
