Old trees are a valuable resource for wildlife and an important part of Bucklebury Common's history.
Many of the older trees on Bucklebury Common are overcrowded by lots of younger, taller trees. This reduces their lifespan and their ability to support the abundance of wildlife. In the past, these trees would have grown up well-spaced and without competition from other trees (you can tell by their spreading shape).
The Bucklebury Estate, with some assistance from local volunteers from the West Berkshire Countryside Society, is working to 'halo' veteran trees and future veterans, by removing younger trees around them.
This will increase the longevity of the veteran tree, allowing it to form lots of features which are great for wildlife like cracks and hollows, dead branches and 'epiphytes' - other plants growing on the tree.
The Bucklebury Estate has 'haloed' over 200 trees on the common, including this Oak at Fairy Glen.
This work is supported by the Partnerships for Nature programme which is led by North Wessex Downs National Landscape. This is funded by the Species Survival Fund from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is administered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Comments