An excellent introduction to the area was given by a local historian and heritage expert, who included the links the area has with important buildings and gardens, that due to their value have received protection and financial support. Ted replied that he could not understand why, if buildings and gardens received such support, ancient trees should not be looked upon as being equally or even more important. He vocalized his lack of respect for recker Repton and b**ger Brown, calling gardens and parks plant graveyards, he then muttered something about seeing your GP.

The rest of the morning was spent discussing the issues of managing the woodland and providing access into it. Initially people talked about the reasons for opening the woodland up and whether it was so important, should it not remain as an area of non-intervention?

I pointed out the importance of leaving some decaying wood as part of the management plan, especially where large pieces of wood were pruned from the Oak trees. I also suggested re-erecting some wood or suspending it from the Oaks to allow for potential bird or bat habitat

Ted went on to talk about the effect the sapling re-growth of Sycamore, Ash, Birch and Turkey Oak, would have growing up through the canopy of the Ancient Oaks and how Oak didn’t like trees growing through it’s canopy, causing it to die back. Ted recommended that a phased program of clearing the smaller trees around the Oaks, or ‘halloing’ would be a good idea, he pointed out that opening up too quickly could cause the trees to become sun scorched.

Karl Dyson then pointed out that the provisional management plans included the removal of all the Sycamores and removal of all hazardous branches and any limbs lower than 2 meters on the Oaks, to prevent children climbing the trees.

Andrew Cowan talked about the necessity to undertake a habitat assessment before any work was done, not only on the tree but also on the use of the woodland by species, especially bats. He pointed out the importance of being environmentally aware and that bats and most other species of wildlife were actually protected under Acts and Regulations making it an offence to injure or kill them and to destroy their habitat. He referred to the guidance notes issued by English Nature and the soon to be published Arboricultural Association ‘Trees and Bats’ written by Andrew.

The timing of pruning to the Oaks was the next main issue discussed. Andrew pointed out that bats were more likely to be present in trees either during the winter, when certain species will be hibernating in the trees, or during the Summer, as a large number of bat species use trees as maternity roosts, and these were the times to be cautious when pruning trees. Ted mentioned that it was good practice to undertake anyserious pruning, such as retrenchment pruning, over a phased period of time, not all at once. Such pruning would be more successful if carried out the year after a wet summer, when the tree will have the necessary energy reserves to cope with the pruning. It is also worth bearing in mind the phonology of differing species of trees when it comes to pruning them.

At this point Karl reminded us all that it was time to retire for lunch at a nearby pub, we were all so engrossed in conversation that time had passed us by. As you can imagine trees and bats were high on the agenda during lunch, (but you will be glad to hear not on the menu!!).

In the afternoon there was a short discussion on the type and location of footpaths that would be needed to allow for public access. Karl showed us a route he had in mind that would allow the public to gain access through the wood and told us that it would require an excavated path, filled with hardcore, to pass beneath one of the ancient Oaks. Some members of the group then pointed out to Karl, with some concern, the implications of this on the tree. It was thought that damage to the base of the tree and its roots, and the fact that it would increase the risk of parts of the tree falling onto the new target, would make this plan unfeasible and instead an alternative route should be chosen. Other suggestions were of raised walkways through the woodland to help alleviate the damage to the ground and the trees.