The Exmoor Ancient Tree Hunt

Introduction

Did you know that the Yew at St Dubricius churchyard in Porlock is thought to be around 1000 years old? To think that some trees on Exmoor may have been around at the time when William the Conqueror established royal hunting rights over Exmoor Forest is impressive.

Ancient Yew at Porlock © Jeremy Sabel

Why record ancient trees?

As a nation Britain has a resource of mature broadleaved trees of European-wide importance, due in large part to differences in historical land use patterns. The trees we see in country estates and ancient woodlands should be considered one of our national treasures. Despite this, all over the country ancient trees have been cut down or had inappropriate surgery carried out with owners citing reasons such as dangerous limbs or too much shade. In many cases limbs could have been supported and little thought was spared for the unique flora and fauna associated with such trees.

Ancient Walnut at Bossington in 1918 which has since died.

Ancient Trees are of sufficient importance locally to be considered in the Exmoor Biodiversity Action Plan under the Parklands, Wood Pastures and Veteran Trees habitat plan. On Exmoor, coppiced oak woodlands, wood pastures and parklands have been features for centuries. The timelessness associated with these landscapes and ancient trees forms strong component in people’s emotional attachment to their land.

Surveying an ancient beech at Hawkridge Woods

An Ancient Tree can be defined as any tree of exceptional value culturally, in the landscape or for wildlife by virtue of its great age, size or condition. Ancient trees harbour an extraordinary variety of wildlife and are often the only constant in changing land use practices over time.

Each tree supports a diverse ecosystem because of the variety of substrates they offer, such as dead wood, furrowed bark, rot holes, sap runs and extensive roots systems. Species which exploit these resources include deadwood invertebrates, bracket fungi, mosses, ferns and lungwort lichens (key indicators of unpolluted habitat). Owls, tree-creepers and woodpeckers are just some of the birds that make homes among hollows whilst many others feast on the rich variety of associated insect life. Ancient trees are also important roost sites for bats

Lungwort Lichen © Jeremy Sabel	Bracket Fungus © Jeremy Sabel