The Tree Register Latest News

Majesty loses large limb

During the weekend of August 1-2 one of the nations favourite champion trees "Majesty" on the Fredville Estate, Nonington, Kent, lost a very large limb. The tree was being visited by Dutch big tree enthusiast Jeroen Philippona who discovered this talking to Park Keeper Mr. Peter Clarke.
More photos and information go to Members Latest news............

Majesty

Photo: © Jeroen Phillipona 2009

Sparsholt College lecturers climb Britain’s tallest tree!

The tallest tree ever climbed and confirmed in the UK is a 63.79m high Douglas Fir, previously recorded by The Tree Register as a joint champion at 62m. The Stronardron Douglas Fir, adjacent to Dunans Castle in Argyll has now been claimed champion tree. Proud custodian of the tree Mr Robin Creelman is happy for people to visit and admire this arboreal wonder! The tallest tree as recorded by Forestry Commission experts is 64m, another Douglas Fir at Reelig Glen Wood, Moniack in the Highlands. This tree has never been officially climbed and recent laser recent measurements suggest the Stronardron tree is the stronger title contender.

The tree climbing was part of an expedition by Mark Tansley and Steve Woollard, two lecturers in arboriculture from Sparsholt College Hampshire, to measure some of the tallest trees in Britain in a hunt for the UK’s tallest tree. Although the primary aim of the project was to record the height of the trees, they also hope to raise awareness of the fantastic natural heritage of the UK and promote interest in a range of tree industry related opportunities.

Mark, 29, from the Salisbury Plain, spent several months planning the expedition which has involved scaling trees over 60 metres tall, all of which are located in Scotland. Steve, 34, from Warminster, is also a qualified climber and both Mark and Steve are course tutors on the National Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture at Sparsholt College.

Joining Mark and Steve on the trip were Lukasz Warzecha, an international award winning extreme photographer and lead tree climber for an arboricultural company in Edinburgh, Justin Palmer, NPTC assessor/SRT instructor and retailer for Safety Technology in South Wales and Chris Hunter, lead climber for Urban Forestry in Bury St Edmonds.

The trees were chosen in conjunction with the Tree Register and used measuring techniques approved by the Tree Register. They used both Single and Double Rope Technique to carefully climb to a safe point near the top and use a pole to reach the tip. From the bottom of the pole they dropped a 100m tape to the floor. The team did not expose themselves or the tree to any unnecessary risk. In addition to this they took up to four laser hypsometer measurements from ground level.

The team are fully qualified tree climbing arboriculturalists and have between 5 and 17 years industrial experience each with over 50 years in total.

The expedition was sponsored by STIHL, an internationally renowned manufacturer of chainsaws and garden power tools, who are providing specialist high performance clothing and helmets for all of the climbers.

Stronardron

Tree Team

All photos: Lukasz Warzecha www.LWimages.co.uk

Stronardron

THE ALAN MITCHELL LECTURE

2009

Following previous successful fundraising events and to celebrate the 21st anniversary of its founding, The Tree Register (TROBI) is pleased to invite you to attend an event in Spring at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on:

Saturday 9th May 2009

Tony Kirkham, Head of Arboretum at Kew, has generously agreed to be our guest speaker. The
subject of his lecture will be

“250 years of Trees at Kew”

As usual we will be holding our ever-popular Silent Auction of rare and unusual wild collected trees and shrubs. The chance to bid for something special for your garden!

PROGRAMME
(provisional—full details will be sent with tickets)

from 15.30 Guided tours of the Champion Trees of Kew

Refreshments available

17.30 Opening of the Silent Auction of rare and unusual trees in the School of Horticulture.

18.30 Reception with fork buffet in the School of Horticulture.

19.30 The Alan Mitchell Lecture by Tony Kirkham

20.30 Results of the Silent Auction.

TICKET ONLY

Admission only by tickets bought in advance at £25. Admission price includes entry to the botanic gardens. This special event is limited to 150 tickets, which will be issued on a first-come first-served basis. Tickets can be obtained from the Secretary Mrs P Stevenson, 77a Hall End, Wootton, Bedford MK43 9HL Tel: 01234 768884. All net income will be applied to the charitable purposes of TROBI.

Celebrating our Patrons' 60th birthday!

CHAMPION trees that are 60 this year

Acer distylum at Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden (photo 2008 courtesy of Edinburgh RBG)

Acer hersii at the private Talbot Manor Arboretum, Norfolk (photo 2008 O. Johnson)

Magnolia 'campbellii 'Sidbury' at Sidury House, Devon (photo Caerhays collection) Other Magnolia champions planted in 1948 include M. campbellii subsp. mollicomata at Lanhydrock, National Trust, Cornwall and M. dawsoniana x sargentiana in the Antony House Woodland Garden, Cornwall.

Acer distylum

Acer hersii

Magnolia Sidbury

Remarkable tree is re-found after 15 years!

A Scots pine photographed by Tree Register Trustee Thomas Pakenham and subsequently selected for inclusion in his best selling book Meetings with Remarkable Trees, was remembered only as being somewhere in the Spey valley 50 miles south of Inverness! Tree Register members Nicholas and Karen Dumville were determined to find the tree and after contacting Thomas for any final clues took 3 days and drove 300 miles, stopping to ask local people where the tree may be. Finally their quest ended just west of Carrbridge. On hearing of the discovery a delighted Thomas said "It's brilliant. And the tree hasn't changed a whisker in 15 years!"

Lost Pine