Do you know the difference between an ancient tree and a veteran tree? No, nor did I until enlightened by Heath Hands Jo on a veteran tree walk around the heath last Friday. Sadly, because we had a Salon Music concert that evening, I had to peel off before we were even half way through but I thought you might be interested in what I did see.
Ancient or veteran?
So – ancient or veteran? An ancient tree is a tree which is seriously old in terms of the type of tree it is. So, for example, an oak would only be considered ancient if it was around 500 years old as they can live up to 1000 years, whereas a birch would be considered ancient at 150 years.
A veteran tree, according to the Woodland Trust, is a ‘survivor tree that has developed some of the features found on ancient trees even though they are usually only in their second or mature stage of life’. Or, as Jo put it, trees that looks a though they have been through it a bit.
Two Tree Hill
So the two oak trees at the top of this blog – the trees on Two Tree Hill on Sandy Heath – probably only date from the early 1800s but they have had a hard life surving the massive sand excavation that went on all over the top of the heath in the mid to late 1800s.
(Geologically the top of Hampstead Heath is made up gooey clay – the Claygate Beds – covered by a thick layer of sand – the Bagshot Sands. The Victorians found this sand really good for building purposes – houses and also the new railway lines – and so dug it up and carted it away in enormous quantities. While now Spaniards Road runs along a ’causeway’ through the heath with sharp drops on either side, 200 years ago when those trees planted themsleves, that was all relatively flat sandy heath land.)
The Two Trees are now carefully preserved – inside their protective fence to prevent people walking too close to them and further compacting their roots. They have also been ‘haloed’ – the surrounding tree have been cut back to allow light to reach in to them. They don’t look in the best of health but they are hanging in there. One theory as to their survival is that because the soil was so sandy they would have had to put roots down a very long way to get at any water – which stood them in good stead as the sand was carted away round them
For lots more picture of the two trees see this page on the Ancient Tree Forum which also shows images of them in 1866 before all the surrounding woodland planted itself. For a fascinating account, with images, of the attempts of local land owner to develop the heath and the sterling opposition that thwarted them, see the ‘Protecting the heath’ page of Hampstead Heath.net.
Pitt’s tree
This gateway is all that is left of the garden belonging to William Pitt the Elder’s (1708-78) house just above North End; the house itself was demolished in the 1950s. But as you can see, this veteran beech tree is doing its best to push the wall over. In an attempt to preserve both the ancient gateway and the tree the wall has been supported to slow its descent to the ground – a nice compromise that retains both the tree and the historic structure. It has also been ‘haloed’ to ensure it receives enough sunlight, although this has to be done carefully as for thin barked tree species, such as beech, there is a risk of the bark becoming sun scorched or the tree suffering from drought stress due to increased transpiration or evaporation.
This tree is also interesting because it has grown itself a natural brace. You can see where the two branches just above the Arch have met and fused. This acts as a natural brace supporting both branches. For loads more pictures see the Ancient Tree Forum site here.
The great hollow elm of Hampstead
And finally – although alas only in hearsay – the Great Hollow Elm of Hampstead.
The Great Hollow Elm ‘flourished’ in the mid 17th century and stood, it is thought, near the site of Jack Straw’s Castle. It was said to be hollow with a staircase or ladder taking visitors up 42 steps to a turret at the top where six people could sit and admire the surrounding scenery.
For a few more details see the Great Hollow Elm of Hampstead page on the endless fascinating Underground map site – a series of maps from the 1750s until the 1950s on which you can see how London grew from a city which only reached as far as Park Lane into today’s megapolis. The site now includes over 85 000 articles on all variety of locations including roads, houses, schools, pubs and palaces.
Sadly, I had to leave the walk at that point so do not know what I may have missed. Next time. Meanwhile for other Heath Hands events and walks keep an eye on the Heath Hands site.
Not at all ancient. One of the willows down by the Boating Pond which is unlikely to even reach veteran status as willow trees are very short lived seldom making it even to 50!
More tree trouble….