STAFFORDSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST
THE first talk of the autumn season for the Leek Group of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust welcomed a new speaker, Debbie Alston, lecturer at Derby University.
Her talk was entitled If Old Trees Could Talk. Large, old trees have played an important part in our culture and history with their associated stories as this talk revealed.
The Boscobel Oak near Telford is said to be the large tree in which the future King Charles II hid from the Roundheads in 1651 after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester.
The tree found there now, however, is the son of the original tree. Oak Apple Day (a type of plant gall) was observed on May 29 to commemorate the restoration of the monarchy in May 1660.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs Tree, a sycamore, commemorates the agricultural workers whose wages were reduced causing them to rebel. They were charged under old naval law, taken to Dorchester where they were found guilty and sent to Australia. Two years later they were pardoned. The Bicycle Tree, a sycamore, at Brig o’turk, in the Trossachs is a relatively young tree believed to date from the 19th century.
It is renowned for the metal work, including a bicycle that has been hung in the tree and subsumed by the tree as it has grown.
In 1920 London was looking to enhance its parks and The Elfin Oak, in Kensington Gardens is little more than the dead carcass of an old oak which was donated and work commissioned to incorporate “little people”, elves, fairies and the like, into the structure. On three occasions Spike Milligan sponsored restoration work on this “sculpture”. In 1997 it was given Grade II listed status as a structure, the only tree to receive such an accolade.
The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is probably the best known tree in the world because of its association with Robin Hood. It is thought to be about 1,000 years old and by rights it should be named the Major’s
Oak as it is named after Major Rooke who described it in his book published in 1790.
It was originally called the Cockpen Oak as it was used to hold cockerels before a fight, later it was known as the Queen’s Oak. The Parliament Oak is probably the biggest in Sherwood Forest.
This was a royal hunting forest so not surprising that first King John convened parliament there in the 1200s and 200 years later King Edward I also convened parliament under its boughs when on his way to Scotland. Britain has 80 per cent of the large old trees in Europe thanks to the British aristocracy (this excludes the Greek olive trees which have been farmed for hundreds of years).
Shining Cliff Woods near Ambergate is home to the Betty Kenny Oak, however the splintered remains of this tree, damaged by vandals in the 1880s are all that remain. Betty Kenny and husband Luke together with their eight children lived under its shelter for many years in the late 1700s.
She was known to hang the children’s cradle in the tree to rock them to sleep, widely believed to be the origin of Rock-abye Baby.
Will Shores Tree, a sycamore, can be found on Oaker Hill, Derbyshire. In the early 1800s two brothers didn’t get on, they both planted a tree on Oaker Hill. One went away in search of fame and fortune but ended up penniless, his tree died.
The other brother stayed local and prospered as did his tree. Numerous other trees had their tale told. Debbie finished her talk with comments on the incredible wildlife associated with these extremely old trees and how important they are to preserving many invertebrate species only found on such trees. We need to learn to love old trees a little bit more.
Sponsor for the evening was Adrian Wilson, the independent Renault specialist of Salisbury Street, Leek.
For our October meeting we look forward to welcoming back to Leek wildlife tour guide, photographer and author, Keith Offord.
In his final year at Liverpool University, Keith studied Hen Harrier feeding and distribution. Raptor conservation has always been an integral part of his activities and every year he spends several weeks high up on the Welsh hills monitoring the breeding activity of Harriers and Merlins. He is also co-ordinator of the North East Wales Raptor Study Group.
Having travelled extensively to most continents of the world Keith and his wife created Wild Insights, helping people to have a great holiday and see plenty of interesting wildlife.
After 13 years and 90 overseas tours their enthusiasm remains undimmed.
Keith runs a number of UK based activities including a series of workshops on different bird groups – raptors, waders and wildfowl.
He tours all over the country giving lectures to a wide range of people from Wildlife and RSPB local groups to lecture and photographic societies.
When he has time he also contributes articles and photos to birdwatching journals. Keith is without doubt one of the finest speakers on the circuit and for any birdwatcher or anyone with even a casual interest in wildlife, this talk is one not to be missed.
Keith’s talk to the Leek Group of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust on Tuesday, October 9 is entitled “What’s That Raptor?”.
It will be held at St. Paul’s Church Centre, Novi Lane, Leek, at 7.30pm. Admission £3 includes refreshments. Please note that Christmas cards, calendars etc. and delicious, locally produced, Longsdon honey will be on sale, kindly donated yet again by members David and Nicky Magnier.
Our annual Coffee Morning will be held on Friday, October 12 in Trinity Church foyer, 9am-1pm, and the group will be most grateful for donations of homemade cakes, jams, chutneys etc.
All proceeds will go towards fire-fighting equipment and a restoration project for the Roaches in view of the recent disaster when 200 acres of wildlife habitat was destroyed by fire.