Help Save and Record Ashford Borough's Veteran Trees
Veteran trees are amazing and an integral part of our natural heritage. They are the old trees in woodland, parkland and the gnarled oaks in the hedgerows. Our ancestors valued these trees as vital assets; they were part of their subsistence and economy as well as objects of religious and social interest. In modern day Kent few trees are maintained and managed for their produce. Many more have been felled to make room for development, intensive agriculture and forestry or for safety reasons.
Two years ago Kent BTCV received a grant £47,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out a veteran tree survey of the Borough, which will help save and protect these magnificent trees for generations to come.
This project has now come to a close. Over the past two years 121 volunteers from across the Borough has been busy out and about locating and surveying trees in their local areas. As a direct result of this project, 841 trees were located and surveyed by volunteers from across the Borough. Of these trees; 69 were found to be ancient trees, 314 veteran trees and 332 notable trees.
All of the trees surveyed by volunteers are now available to view on the Ashford Borough Council website, along with photos and relevant text. You can download and print the photos along with the text. Please see website link below:
http://www.ashford.gov.uk/environment/trees.aspx
If you would like to become involved in a possible Kent wide Heritage Trees Project, please contact the BTCV Kent office.
