moved in to reap these much needed rations - fungi, berries, herbs and wood - and found they had a rich kingdom. Which is probably why most of the monarchs of England soon laid claim to every inch of forest in the kingdom immediately after the Romans left! ‘Ancient woodland, like Ryton, are
a great link back to the wildwood,’ continued Eddie, ‘with the same species, but obviously having been altered with millennia of management.’ It is clear then, that Ryton’s ancient woodland is indeed a very special place. Considering the demands made on England’s forests over the centuries for housing and ship building, not to mention fuel, it’s quite an achievement that any trees are left standing at all. Due to the phenomenal age of some of these trees, and the ecological support they offer to diverse and rare wildlife, Ryton is a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’. But how do we know that Ryton is so old? ‘Indicator species,’ explained Eddie. The small-leafed lime, holly and hazel are all indigenous tree species of the British Isles. Each supporting a micro- culture of their own and each believed to be some of the first trees to grow successfully in southern and mid- England after the ice age. Historically, lime provides the wood to make traditional charcoal, an integral part of society’s working life in centuries past. Amongst other things, charcoal made from lime trees was burned to create the intense heat needed to smelt
•Tree puller
iron for making horse-shoes. Some of which were worn by the working horses that pulled the felled trees out of the forest. Today tractors are used to remove trees but this can cause damage. When horses pulled out the felled trees, the job may have been slower, but it was better for the environment and did no damage at all. On our walk around Ryton we found a discarded contraption that had once been used for just this job. The trouble with tractors is that they
are very heavy and the tyres can cause deep furrows in the soft ground. Woodlands have for a long time
supported human activity, providing food, shelter and work. These days proper coppicing is an ‘art’ - less than two hundred years ago it was a job. There are several cycles of coppicing. Today we would know it as woodland management - where an area is cleared to let the light through so saplings can grow well and ground cover can regenerate effectively. Often, if a cleared site is found by a member of the public, it can seem a bit strange to see trees cut down for seemingly no reason. Where a hazel or lime tree is cut down for use, branches are then laid over the stumps and then built up; this provides protection for the remainder of the tree beneath to grow again and provides a secure habitat for the eco-system that develops from down on the forest floor up through the cut branches. Prolifically-growing plants, those that grow ferociously and smother any less able plants can then easily be monitored and removed if necessary. With proper coppicing like this, it becomes much easier for the remaining plants to grow well. If they struggle for light the saplings can be weak or twisted, and therefore not a viable product to be sold on. This process takes between nine and 20 years, so to manage a woodland like Ryton successfully is a lifetime’s work. Sometimes, where there has been vigorous but necessary coppicing, Eddie is asked by a concerned member of the public why the trees have been cut down. He is happy to explain the need for managed regeneration within
• Regrowth August 2011 33
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