Friday 1 February 2008

The hunt for the Notable Trees of Norfolk has resulted in over two hundred trees being reported and over 50 photographs submitted. People from all over the county got involved to help NWT map Norfolk’s most amazing trees and to take part in tree events and workshops.

NWT asked people to help them discover Norfolk’s most amazing trees; trees so big that two or more adults couldn’t join hands around the trunk, or a tree with an unusual story associated with it. The largest tree reported was an oak at the edge of Norfolk Wildlife Trust nature reserve, NWT East Wretham Heath. This has a massive nine metre circumference!

The most frequently reported species with over half of the results was the oak. English oaks can live for over 1,000 years and support a huge range of other wildlife. The second most reported species was beech, which if given enough room to grow, can become a very impressive sized tree, forming a strong, dome canopy. A sweet chestnut tree made it into the top five Notable Trees of Norfolk, with a circumference of 8m 40cm.

Lime, willow and ash were also recorded, along with other species including black poplar, macrocarper and horse chestnut. The majority of trees reported had a circumference of between 421-490cm: just over three adults to hug a tree!

As well as the survey, NWT ran a series of events and workshops. 30 people took part in a tree identification workshop, and over 500 people attended NWT’s ‘Seedy Sunday’ in September last year at Holt County Park.

Project leader and education manager for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, David North said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with how many people have taken part in the Notable Trees of Norfolk; it seems to have really inspired people to get out there and look at the amazing trees we walk or drive past every day. Old large trees are fantastic for wildlife, they give us shelter and shade, and of course as probably the most ancient living creatures in Norfolk, they have wonderful stories to tell us. The survey results will support the Norfolk and Suffolk County Council heritage tree survey and will be fed into the Woodland Trust as supporting information for national tree surveys.’

‘Notable Trees of Norfolk’ was NWT’s first Citizen Science survey in their Natural Connections project. The project received a grant of £207,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the involvement of local communities in wildlife surveys and conservation projects. NWT has since run a Mistletoe Survey over the winter and is set to launch its ‘Make a Date with Wildlife’ phenology survey. The project also includes a free wildlife information and advice service for people across Norfolk. Visit www.norfolkwildlifetrust/naturalconnections.

Director of Norfolk Wildlife Trust Brendan Joyce commented; ‘By the end of the three year project, we hope many more people will have come to value the wildlife in their local area and have developed their enthusiasm and interest in conservation. The great thing about wildlife is once you get interested there is something new to discover every day!’



The Top 20 Notable Trees of Norfolk

1. Oak 900cm, East Wretham                              
2. Oak 860cm, Hempnall
3. Oak 840cm, Reepham
4. Sweet chestnut 840cm, Walsingham Abbey
5. Oak 800cm, Ingworth
6. Oak 790cm, Mulbarton road, b1113
7. Oak 778cm, Fellbrigg hall
8. Sweet chestnut 724cm, Reepham
9. Oak 715cm, Beighton
10. Lime 708cm, Honingham
11. Oak 680cm, Dunston golf course
12. Oak 680cm, Quidenham
13. Oak 680cm, Hoveton
14. Oak 660cm, Hethersett
15. Beech 654cm, Norwich, Elm Grove Lane
16. Oak 650cm, Salhouse
17. Oak 650cm, Halesham
18. Oak 640cm, shooting lodge, Heacham park
19. Sweet chestnut 612cm, north Burlingham Church
20. Sweet chestnut 600cm, Dunston golf course

Please be aware that some of these trees may be on private property. To read more about NWT East Wretham Heath and opening times, please click here

To read more about Natural Connections and other Citizen Science surveys that you can take part in click here

To view the Natural Connections photo gallery with images of trees and other Norfolk wildlife, click here