How to get involved About Back from the Brink. with this project.

17 18 22 Our ancient trees need you. Come and DONATE Back from the Brink. One of the join us as we secure a future for ancient We rely on your donations to fund these vital most ambitious conservation trees and their precious wildlife. projects, so please donate today and support initiatives ever undertaken. As a volunteer you could help us survey our work to bring nature back from the brink: This is the first time ever that so many conservation organisations sites for threatened species. You don’t naturebftb.co.uk have come together with one focus have to be an expert as we’ll provide free VOLUNTEER – to bring some of England’s most identification and survey training to get Take part in surveys for our threatened species, help threatened , plants and fungi you going. Or you might prefer to learn out at local events or enhance your knowledge with back from the brink of extinction. about ancient tree wildlife at your own our downloadable resources. Natural England is working in pace using our downloadable resources. EVENTS partnership with Rethink Nature, 23 There will be walks, talks and more for all We will be at various events over the summer where and the entire project is made possible thanks to funding from to enjoy, so do come along to say hello. you can come and learn all about the amazing wildlife 19 the National Lottery. Why not follow what is happening on ancient trees support. Find out about our other projects at: social media. Go to the website to find CONTACT US naturebftb.co.uk out more. Find out more about the Ancients of the Future @naturebftb project, and how you can get involved. Email: [email protected] 21 24 Online: naturebftb.co.uk Twitter:@naturebftb Ancients of

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Securing the future of our ancient 15 16 tree landscapes and the species that depend on them IMAGES: Cover Alamy; 1, 13 Colin Wilkinson; 2, 4, 5 Udo Schmidt, Flickr, CC BY-SA 4.0; 3 Vavrin CC BY SA 3.0; 6 Paul Brock; 7 Fred Rumsey; 8, 9 Dave Lamacraft; 10 Will George; 11 Geoff Howe; 12 Hugh Clark - Bat Conservation Trust; 14, 18, 19, 22, 23 Ben Andrew; 15 Heather Stuckey rspb-images.com; 16 Andrew Skinner; 17 Shutterstock; 20 Andy Hay; 21 Neil Hulme; 24 Ben Hall

Donation administration and processing by Butterfly Conservation (Charity No: 254937) on behalf of the project partnership; all donations are shared by all project partners exclusively for Back from the Brink work. A BACK FROM THE BRINK PROJECT COSNARD’S NET-WINGED A POX LICHEN How we will secure Species we are Erotides cosnardi Pyrenula nitida Where this project 5 Only known from around a 9 Associated with the smooth dozen sightings across the bark of ancient and a future for our bringing back from Wye Valley and West Sussex hornbeam, this lichen likes is taking place. Downs, this very rare beetle areas where rain is channelled is most often associated with down tree trunks from the ancient trees. the brink. the rotting heartwood at the canopy above. The project centre of veteran beech trees. will look to trial translocating Adults have been observed lichens between trees at Ancient trees in our wood pasture and parkland We will focus on endangered species that need dead in May and June. We will Burnham to save have inspired generations through their culture and and decaying wood or aged bark as part of their life continue work to better a threatened population, folklore. They are also home to some of our rarest cycle. This is mostly found in our oldest trees. understand the ecology of and ultimately increase this enigmatic beetle. the population and build wildlife; particularly those associated with decaying resilience. wood and aged bark. But today our ancient trees VIOLET NOBLE CHAFER are under threat from tree disease and climate Limoniscus violaceus Gnorimus nobilis WESTERN WOOD-VASE HOVERFLY Myolepta potens change. The continuity of habitat they have 2 This beautiful beetle is 6 This metallic green beetle is confined to a small number most often associated with 10 This hoverfly hadn’t been provided1 through the centuries is at risk. There is of veteran trees at Windsor the fruit-growing regions of seen in the UK for nearly a significant age gap between the existing trees Forest and Bredon Hill. The England where it can be found 40 years before its discovery 3 which are rich in biological and cultural history, and larvae feed in the wood mould living in the wood mould that at Moccas Park in 2001. that accumulates in the base accumulates in the decaying The larvae live in rainwater- the next generation - our ‘Ancients of the Future’. of hollowing trees. Wood centre of old living fruit trees. filled hollows on veteran mould can take more than a Work during this project will trees where they consume 1 century to develop in a tree help us to better understand the leaf litter and other meaning this habitat is rare the needs of this beetle in debris that accumulates in and largely restricted to old places like the New Forest the bottom. We will help to trees in the most advanced where fruit trees are few and better understand the current stages of decay. far between. population of this wonderful 2 fly and secure its future.

OAK POLYPORE KNOTHOLE MOSS Piptoporus quercinus Zygodon forsteri SAP-GROOVE LICHEN 7 Bacidia incompta 6 3 This is one of the specialist 7 This tiny moss favours rain heartwood decay fungi that and wound tracks on veteran 11 This rare lichen is found on 1 create vital habitats such beech trees and is found in mature trees with less acidic 5 as tree hollows that are the knots, scars and damaged bark, like ash, field , needed by some of our rarest roots of trees in places like elm and old beech, where it is decaying wood invertebrates. Burnham Beeches and the often associated with sap runs leaking from damaged areas This fungus likes the New Forest. We will be 4 exposed heartwood found managing the area around of bark. We will be working on mature and veteran oak these trees and where at various project sites to try trees in places such as suitable habitat exists, as to create new habitat for this Sherwood Forest. well as carrying out trials to species by artificially creating artificially create new habitat. sap runs. naturebftb.co.uk MOCCAS BEETLE To keep up to date with progress on all 19 projects Hypebaeus flavipes GERANIUM FIREDOT BARBASTELLE BAT visit our interactive project map on our website. Caloplaca herbidella Barbastella barbastellus This project will work with landowners and site 4 Known only from Moccas Park in the UK where it is 8 This very rare lichen is 12 This rare woodland specialist managers across England to ensure that ancient associated with the galleries confined to the light and airy will use older trees and trees continue to thrive and provide a positive created by wood boring conditions found on ancient decaying wood and typically Ancients of the Future has projects throughout England. Key sites which are publicly accessible: in ancient oaks. It oaks in wood pasture. roosts, breeds and hibernates 1 Windsor 5 Savernake Forest future for the rare and scarce species they support. is thought to feed upon It has not been recorded in in tree crevices and cavities Ancient trees and the wildlife that rely on them need habitat It will also raise public awareness and change the wood-boring insects England for over 20 years. behind lifted bark. We continuity. Without it, many specialist species will disappear. 2 BredonHill 6 Burnham Beeches themselves and possibly also As part of this project we will will be working at project These include the Violet Click Beetle, the Royal Splinter Cranefly, 3 SherwoodForest 7 EppingForest attitudes towards ancient trees and decay loving sites to reduce the loss Eagle’s-claw Lichen, Coral-tooth Fungi and the Knothole Moss. aphids. Adults can be found be revisiting its last known 4 NewForest fauna and flora. flying around on warm days in English locations to try and of habitat and roosts and Working with land managers, tree surgeons and historic June and July visiting flowers re-find it and secure its future. improve connectivity to the landscape architects, we will develop training, information and and foliage. countryside. guidance, to influence how sites are managed in the future.