The ancient oaks, beech and sweet chestnut of Savernake Forest will be the focus of the next Thinking Arbs Day this autumn.
Led by Ted Green, the session will focus on propping trees and will include a tour of some of Europe’s largest-girth oaks, beech and sweet chestnut. Past and potential future management of the beeches will be discussed in the informal and engaging format that is at the heart of the Thinking Arbs days.
The old Forest of Savernake is derived from ancient wood pasture management, and has many veteran trees. The forest extends to 1100 hectares, most of which is classified as a Special Site of Scientific Interest, as well as being registered as an important historic park. Since 1939 the majority of the woodland has been managed by the Forestry Commission with the freehold retained by the Savernake Estate.
Previous Thinking Arbs events at Windsor, the Ankerwyke yew and Knepp Castle Estate have been popular and successful, attracting arboriculturists, ecologists and other professionalss. You can read AA Technical Officer Simon Richmond’s account of the Knepp event in this summer’s ARB Magazine (issue 177, pages 61–63).