Fabled oaks hope

Abstract

Britain is not known for forests: in fact it has one of the lowest levels of tree cover in Europe. But it does provide home to some of the oldest trees on the continent. In Sherwood Forest, in the English midlands, oak trees survive that are believed to be more than 1,000 years old. Such venerable trees are made more famous by their association with the legend of Robin Hood, the outlaw who lived amongst them while fighting with the British authorities at the time of the Crusades.But Sherwood Forest now comprises just fragments of its former extent and the ancient oaks are finally crumbling. So a new project aims to create corridors between these ancient fragments and replant with oak trees to try to restore the forest to something of its former size before all the ancient oaks have all vanished. Researchers calculate that within 50 years Europe's oldest trees will have gone. A clue to the age of these trees can be gleaned from the fact that oak trees were cleared from the forest in the great rush to build warships against the Spanish Armada, but these trees were already considered too old to provide useful timber, and so were left standing.Given their parlous present state, a rescue plan has been drawn up by conservationists which includes a £59 million bid to the country's lottery fund this winter with the aim of planting 250,000 new oaks to link the surviving fragments and create new stretches of equally important grazed open heath.The restoration of the forested regions remains a paramount goal for conservationists. Ancient maps studied by archaeologist, Ursula Spence, show that at the time when Robin Hood was believed to be living in the forest, should he have fled he would have been able to ride under cover to Sheffield 80 kilometres away. Now he would barely manage five kilometres.But beyond the Robin Hood stories, the minimal disturbance amongst the remaining fragments has also created a wildlife refuge. Several beetles are found here and nowhere else in Britain and many other rare species are home here.Conservationists are hoping the lottery can prove a winner in helping this site.Ancient: Researchers are keen to restore Sherwood Forest as the ancient oaks, reaching the end of their life, provide a key habitat. (Photo: © Ian Evans/Alamy.)View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide