A three year survey of more than 40,000 ancient trees, including Newton’s apple tree and the yew tree which overlooked the signing of the Magna Carta, will reveal the full extent and condition of the ancient trees cared for by the Trust.

Ancient trees provide an extremely valuable habitat, hosting rare fungi, lichens and deadwood invertebrates, many of which are totally dependent on ancient trees for their survival.

By surveying these habitats and their locations, the Trust as the most important organisation for ancient trees in the UK, will be able to ensure that there are enough replacement ancient trees for the future.

As part of an ongoing three year partnership, Cadbury are supporting the National Trust in their maintenance of countryside sites. The research will be carried out by the National Trust’s newly appointed Ancient Tree Advisor and the records will also be added to the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Hunt.

Ray Hawes, Head of Forestry

With more than 25,000 hectares of woodland, 200,000 hectares of farmland and 135 landscape and deer-parks, more than 40,000 ancient trees are expected to be included in the survey during the next three years.

Newton’s apple tree at Woolsthorpe in Lincolnshire, the sycamore tree in Dorset where the Tolpuddle Martyrs met in the 1830s and the 2,000 year old Ankerwycke yew at Runnymede in Berkshire where the Magna Carta was sealed are three examples of the historic trees cared for by the Trust.

An ancient tree is one which is very old in comparison with other trees of the same species. There is no strict definition as to what age a tree must be to be considered ancient, but a 600 year old oak tree or 300 year old beech tree would qualify. Yew trees can live for several thousand years and oak and sweet chestnut for 1,000 years or more.

Brian Muelaner, the new National Trust Ancient Tree Advisor, added:

The work of the new Ancient Tree Advisor and the survey of ancient trees on National Trust land has been made possible with the support of Cadbury.