Britain has more ancient trees than any other country in Northern Europe. Find out more about their legacy and discover living history on your doorstep this November.

This winter, Shaftesbury volunteers will be planting trees for biodiversity and to ameliorate the effects of climate change. Such planting, along with encouraging trees that want to grow, is vital. However, it is equally important to retain and care for the ancient, veteran trees in our woods, greens, parks and hedgerows.
Old trees are hugely important for wildlife. Some trees have lived so long that they harbour an extensive array of lichens and fungi as well as insects, some unique to themselves. At one time, royal hunting forests surrounded Shaftesbury: Gillingham Royal Forest – part of the Forest of Selwood – to the north, Cranborne Chase to the east and Blackmore Forest to the south and west. The king and his followers would arrive to hunt in these areas, which were characterised by open land as well as woodland.
Julian Hight, author, photographer, graphic designer and musician, has written three beautiful books the most recent of which, Britain’s Ancient Forest, Legacy and Lore, took him all over the country and four years to write.
Shaftesbury Tree Group have invited Julian to talk about the cultural, historical and ecological importance of ancient trees, and show us his photographs of these beautiful remnants of living history from all over the country. Of particular local interest are Kingston Lacy’s beech avenue, the Crusader Oak at Stock Gaylard, the Remedy Oak at Woodlands and Wyndham’s Oak at Silton, as well as the forests of Blackmore and Selwood. Julian is helping to regenerate Selwood Forest, remnants of which linger still around Longleat and Stourhead and Gillingham.

This illustrated talk is hosted by Planet Shaftesbury and Shaftesbury Tree Group on Thursday 17 November at 7.30pm, at Shaftesbury Town Hall, admission is free, although donation boxes will be available.