Ancient trees prove an inspiration
Nearly 50 children took part in the Wealden Ancient Tree Hunt, helping to identify and record some of the many ancient trees that make up Wealden’s remarkable environmental heritage.
The Wealden Ancient Tree Hunt was part of the Wealden Ancient Tree Survey which was organised by Wealden District Council, Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre in collaboration with the Woodland Trust. The purpose of the Wealden Ancient Tree Hunt was to encourage children to take notice of some of the ancient trees that make up Wealden, be inspired by them and help record them.
“There is a big tree at my school. It’s ancient and I think it is magical,” was how one of the wining entries summed up their importance.
"We were very pleased with the entries from schools that took part in the Wealden Ancient Tree Hunt", said Councillor Chantal Wilson, chairman of Wealden District Council, who was one of the panel who judged the competition.
"It was clear that these ancient trees had fired their imagination and inspired wonderful drawings, paintings and poetry. The interest the children took in the competition shows that our beautiful natural surroundings remain a source of inspiration for the young as well as the not so young. It also demonstrates the importance of looking after our unspoilt countryside. I would like to thank everyone who sent in such splendid entries. Judging was an extremely difficult task as the children had all produced delightful work."
There were two age categories: 5 - 8 years olds and 9 -11 years olds.
First prize in the 5- 8 years old category was won by Beth Beasley of Rocks Park Primary School, Uckfield. Second prize was won by Alexandra White and the third prize by Louis Bissett, both of Rocks Park Primary School.
First prize in the 9-11 age category was won by Jonathan Burton of Willingdon Primary School. Second prize was won by Harry Plant and third prize by Thomas Melling, both of Willingdon School.
A presentation of prizes has been arranged with the winning schools to take place on March 11, at Wealden District Council’s Offices in Pine Grove, Crowborough.
The Wealden Ancient Tree Survey, which is expected to map over 500 ancient trees is part of a strategic approach by Wealden Council to survey its wildlife and landscape assets in partnership with other stakeholders. Nearly 14 per cent of Wealden’s land area is covered in ancient woodland which has been wooded since at least the year 1600.
The full extent of Wealden’s ancient woodland heritage came to light through a 2005 survey carried out for the Council by the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty unit. This identified 2000 ha of ancient woodland that had been previously unrecorded. The Council, working in collaboration with some of its partners from the Wealden Ancient Woodland Survey, is now recording ancient trees in the district, particularly where they stand alone in hedgerows or in small groups. Ancient trees provide a valuable habitat for many types of wildlife; indeed pasture woodland, a kind of open woodland traditionally grazed in the past and which often contains many fine examples of ancient trees, is a Sussex Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in its own right.
