Gardener’s Cuttings


Wildlife dependent on aging tree habitats


Hampshire’s wealth of ancient trees and woodland has been highlighted in a guide to highlight the host of wildlife supported by ancient and veteran trees. The guide comes from the Woodland Trust in partnership with the Ancient Tree Forum.


Jill Butler, conservation policy adviser for ancient trees at the Woodland Trust said: “For historic reasons, Hampshire has thousands of ancient and veteran trees and we therefore have a responsibility to look after them and the biodiversity associated with them – an important message in this International Year of Biodiversity.


“As a good rule of thumb, the older the tree the more valuable it becomes, and even when the tree has actually died, the dead wood can go on providing a valuable habitat for decades. Professor Oliver Rackham put it brilliantly when he said, ‘a 500 year old oak is a whole ecosystem for creatures for which 10,000 oaks of 200 years old are no use at all’.”


Jill Butler explains: “Surprising as it may sound, it is the habitat created by wood as fungi decay which helps to make old trees so important for wildlife diversity. This is because hundreds of specialist species drawn from the fascinating worlds of fungi, invertebrates and lichens can only live in trees when they are in this condition.


“Decay is not a static condition and as the habitat changes, especially as trunks and branches hollow and the bark ages, new habitats are created and exploited by increasingly specialised wildlife. Once cavities have been created, they are occupied by creatures as diverse as bats and great spotted woodpeckers.“


In partnership with the Ancient Tree Forum and the Tree Register of the British Isles, the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Hunt website hosts a living database of ancient, veteran and notable trees in the UK. Adding trees to the map is the first step to a more sustainable future for the biodiversity associated with ancient trees – anyone can record a tree at www.AncientTreeHunt.org.uk


Riverford promises field-to-table in a giant yurt


Riverford pitches up in Hampshire


Riverford Organics is literally pitching up in Hampshire for two weeks from 27th May to 6th June as it brings freshly picked organic food from field to table in a giant yurt (nomadic tent). Riverford’s new Travelling Field Kitchen has Upper Norton Farm in Hampshire as its first port of call on a nationwide mission to bring fresh produce and inspiring cooking to people up and down the country.


Serving recipes from the original award winning Devon-based Riverford Field Kitchen restaurant, head chef Jane Baxter will be taking what’s best in the local fields and transforming a variety of vegetables and fruits into a feast of gutsy flavours.


As well as serving lunch and supper in the yurt, Upper Norton Farm will be


putting on special events, including cooking demonstrations. The menu has been devised to work with the fresh produce that is available during the summer months, as the roving restaurant makes its way round the country. Examples of the sorts of dishes visitors can expect to enjoy, depending on what is ready to pick that day.


Guy Watson, founder of Riverford, will be attending on the 28th May to cook organic produce and meet customers. He said: “We are on a mission: to get Britain using fresh, seasonal vegetables again. Although seasonal produce is very in vogue, we believe that after 40 years of neglect very few people have the culinary skills to commit to eating this way. We want to show people just how exciting cooking from scratch with seasonal produce can be and inspire them back into their kitchens.”


A two course lunch is from £17.50, three course dinner from £22.50. www.riverfordnorton.co.uk


Fairweather’s help with Salad Days


Fairweather’s unique Plant and Garden Centre in the heart of Beaulieu, are holding an event on Saturday 19th June, 10am to 3pm called Salad Days. There will be bird watching and vegetable hunts for children, salad workshops, various stalls and a salad lunch with proceeds going to Oakhaven. The free courses we hold in the Learning Garden with our gardening expert Martin Perry are on the following dates.


June 12th - Harvest July 3rd - Climbing Beans July 17th - Succession Cropping July 31st - Soft Fruit


As a good rule of thumb, the older the tree the more valuable it becomes


Country Gardener


People wanting to attend must telephone 01590 612307 to book in advance. Fairweathers’ is celebrating specialist plants at various times throughout the year. The annual midsummer weekend is being held on the 19th & 20th June which starts a wonderful fortnight loving Lavenders.


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