Local Wildlife Sites Newsletter 2018

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i I s W S newsle tter I L D L I F E NEWS FROM YOUR HERTFORDSHIRE LO CAL WI LDLIFE SITES PARTNERSHIP 8679

g them and how to best manage d

o Lichens are dual organisms – a L Hertfordshire, is said to require a

l The partnership them. o r

a combination of a fungus and alga – continuity of tree cover of at least C

This newsletter has been produced by :

o and often provide a useful indication t 400 years. In optimum environments Parkland in Hertfordshire o Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust on behalf h What are Wildlife Sites? p of the health and history of an in the west of the country Scripture- of the Local Wildlife Sites Partnership, ecosystem. wort Graphis scripta often occurs in supported by funding from the Environment Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) are Parklands in Hertfordshire originate from deadwood characteristics of natural individual needs will extend their lifespan early successional habitats e.g. as a Agency . sites of substantive nature either Royal hunting grounds, original woodland. The confinement of several and provide a stable habitat for the Besides being of value in their own twig species in Willow Carr, in the conservation value and although wood pasture – possibly centuries old – poorly-dispersing beetles and lichen species they support, greatly benefitting right, veteran trees support distinct east it tends to be associated with they do not have any statutory or were created from agricultural land species to ancient pasture-woodland is wildlife. associations of lichens. The species our ancient woodlands occurring e.g. status, many are equal in quality in the 18th and early 19th centuries. thought to indicate a continuity of e g

of greatest conservation interest are on the smooth trunks of Hornbeam. to statutory Sites of Special d o

They are often rich in veteran trees ancient trees and veteran features to The longer they are managed by careful L

generally to be found in tree trunks. l

The Wildlife Sites Partnership in Hertford shire Scientific Interest (SSSI). o r

whose longevity is mostly attributed primeval times. Such sites, however, pollarding, the longer the trees will live. a

Some may be indicative of ecological The boughs of orchard trees often includes Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, C

There are more than 40,000 :

to their historic management. In wood are few and isolated, with many in poor However, veteran or ancient trees that Hertfordshire Environmental Records Centre, o continuity and occur in relic draw one’s attention due to their t o

pasture, many trees were pollarded, with or compromised condition. have fallen out of the pollard cycle do Hertfordshire Ecology, Natural England, Local Wildlife Sites in England h communities with species likely to prolific cover of foliose (leafy) lichens. p the Countryside Management Service, overseen by 65 Local Sites the cut wood providing winter fodder not respond well to re-pollarding. They have been more widespread before These species have flourished since for grazing animals. The elevated height In Hertfordshire, we are privileged to are extremely fragile, sensitive to Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Chilterns systems, covering contrasting the industrial revolution, but now sulphur dioxide pollution has been AONB, the Forestry Commission and the What are Ancient and Veteran Trees landscapes in coastal, rural and of the tree regrowth protected the new have a number of great parklands surgery and can easily be killed by widely lost due to pollution. These reduced and tend to be better Environment Agency, and is coordinated by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. and why are they important? growth from being grazed, and the including Panshanger Park, Sacombe overzealous pruning. If work is needed communities can, for example be colonists and more widespread than urban situations. Hertfordshire regular pruning served to extend the Park, Brocket Park, Stagenhoe Park, on an old tree that has not been pruned found on Hornbeam pollards in the species on ancient trees. currently has 1,575 habitat LWS. The term ‘ancient’ refers to a tree’s as large cavities in stem and limbs, tree’s life. In more recent times, many Knebworth Park, Broxbournebury Park for over ten years, it must be done with woodlands in southern Hertfordshire Orchards in Hertfordshire often have Registered address: Together with SSSI, LWS age class as beyond full maturity, included bark and load-bearing tears, of these pollards have fallen out of and Youngsbury Park. These contain a extreme caution and with the advice of or on some of the veteran oaks in a good range and high cover of Herts and Middlesex support locally and nationally characterised by crown retrenchment water-filled hollows in limb-joints and management because the practice is variety of ancient and veteran trees, conservation experts. A living tree Panshanger Park. These specialist lichens, supporting invertebrates and Wildlife Trust, threatened species and habitats. and reduced annual incremental growth. gnarly root collars with detritus build- no longer continued, resulting in them most famously the ‘Panshanger Oak’ in provides stability for its veteran lichens are often easily overlooked, food webs in the orchard ecosystem. Grebe House, They play a critical role in Wood-decay attributes accumulate, ups and established water seepages, becoming top-heavy, unbalanced and Panshanger Park, which was allegedly features, but when a tree dies, the St Michael’s Street, such as the minute pinhead species Maintenance is an important factor: St Albans, AL3 4SN forming the building blocks of such as cavities and decay columns, as well as more deeply fissured and their survival being threatened. planted by Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th whole tree will decay faster than the lining bark crevices and small crusts Although pruning will lead to the ecological networks and Living rots, stubs, decorticate wood, and leached acidic bark. Epicormic growth century. Knebworth Park contains over rate of decay within a living tree, losing 01727 858901 towards the base of the tree. The removal of some of the lichens, it also Landscapes. flaking or fissured bark. These veteran may testify to their retrenchment and The historic practice of pollarding 500 Hornbeam pollards which date to at the habitats it provided for some of the inf [email protected] richness on these trees is often only creates broad, open canopies with www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk features usually naturally increase regenerative abilities, so that a living promotes the development of veteran least the mid-18th century, if not earlier. rarest species in the UK. revealed by close examination with a good balance between shade and with age, but many are a response to healthy ancient tree potentially provides features in living trees. Indeed, pasture- Registered in England: 816710 a hand lens. light for lichen colonisation. In addition, Registered Charity: 239863 environmental impacts. Such stresses a continuity of decay features over that woodland is thought to mimic the Managing veterans according to their David Williamson some fruit trees, particularly cherry, may be biotic, like fungal and bacterial of an early veteran or rotting snag. Veterans found in more sheltered and have an acidic bark suitable for Comments or attacks causing cankers, exudations Mature trees begin to naturally become The Hertfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership e and rots. They can also be abiotic: humid environments usually have the species such as the bearded lichen W suggestions for richer in such decay characteristics. continuity of veteran and ancient trees in greatest variety of lichens. Many of (Usnea subfloridana) . This group does not necessarily identify with or hold t to wounds can facilitate entry of micro- Did you know? themselves responsible for the views expressed wan future articles that locality all the way back to the ice age. these can be badly affected by sudden however, has been in decline in the by contributors, correspondents or advertisers. organisms; storms can cause limb-loss, Ancient trees are hugely valuable for Many Click Beetles, some recorded in rom If you preferred changes in the micro-environment, region due to pollution. In this way, ar f shake and lightning scars; drought or wildlife. Over 20% of the UK’s 13,650 Hertfordshire, are associated with the heart They got their names from the curious way he to receive your making sensitive management crucial. ! flooding can lead to root and canopy fungal species are thought to be rot of living veteran and ancient Oaks, Ash, in which they get back on their feet, if they the changing lichen communities on you Printed by N2 Visual Communications on Xerox Colour newsletter via die-back. Ancient woodland is also important orchard trees are good indicators of Impressions Silk, an FSC certified stock made from saprophytic (feeding on dead organic d Beech and Elms. Their life cycle is so have flipped over: They arch their back and n email, please a ll because it offers a stable micro-climate. a minimum of 50% recycled fibre, at a mill that has been matter), with the great majority of o intrinsically linked to heart rot of old living environmental change. H flip up into the air with an audible ‘click’, t awarded the ISO140001 certificate for environmental contact Carol Lodge: re The Barnacle Lichen (Thelotrema Ancient trees will more likely develop other species that utilise the dead ga trees that their presence can indicate the until they land on their feet. ar management. : M photo lepadinum) , occasionally found in Andrew Harris [email protected] particular age-associated features, such wood resource relying on the initial Designed by Wildcat Design ([email protected])

The Hertfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership The Hertfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership transform ative action of this extensive homes for roosting bats including rare rare Violet Click Beetle (Limoniscus group. Decaying wood exclusively specialist species like the Barbastelle violaceus), which, in Britain, only develop The importance of Veteran Trees supports 6% (1,700 species) of the bat. Eight of our seventeen British Bat in brown-rotted wood-mulch of hollow entire British invertebrate fauna and species heavily depend on tree-holes Beech and Ash trees, specifically their obligate associates (predators, and cavities as roost sites. enriched by the droppings, feathers to the barbastelle bat parasites and gallery exploiters). and bones of cavity-nesting birds. Its Also, many epiphytes (especially moss specific requirements, along with several Over two-thirds of our woodland birds and lichen species) are slow colonisers other poorly-dispersing beetle and lichen How old trees can help sustain one of our most endangered mammals are cavity nesters. The process of and are dependent on habitats which species, are so intrinsically linked to decay which begins when fungal spores show great continuity over many years, ancient trees – in particular ancient With only a small number of breeding also in splits and cracks. They prefer leaving a 15 metre buffer of uncut gain entry to a wound, is especially as is provided by veteran trees, and pasture-woodland – that it is thought roosts known to exist in the UK, the veteran trees within the shaded interior trees around ancient or veteran trees. important for hole-nesting birds such allow rich and complex communities to indicate a continuity of ancient barbastelle is one of the country’s of ancient woodland because as Marsh and Willow Tits, as the to develop over time. Some species trees and therefore veteran features rarest and most endangered mammals temperatures are more stable and Roost features can also be created decaying wood is softer than living such as the Knothole Yoke-moss will to primeval times. and is protected under National, humidity is higher, which helps them artificially by sinking upward, vertical tissue and therefore easier to excavate. only grow on veteran Beech trees. European and International legislation. save energy. They will typically move slots into oak trees or by ring-barking Even Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, When veterans are removed, its many Long-term experimentation in promotion roost every 2 to 3 days over the certain trees. Flat, crevice bat boxes – who will begin by excavating a small epiphytes, along with saprophytes and of veterancy is underway in the UK, Old apple tree with selective crown removal to reduce At one time, the barbastelle was summer, so a large number of these such as the Schwegler 1FF – can be hole into fresh wood, will allow a associated wildlife, can be lost with it. including the experimentation of Old plum with significant rot and weightload and avoid further tree splitting thought to be extinct in Hertfordshire. roost sites is needed. erected in suitable habitats to rotting process to begin before saproxylic-fungal inoculation of a deadwood, being replaced by There are now a few widely dispersed encourage roosting within the wood. excavating more deeply. Saproxylic invertebrates are the most variety of tree species. Large old apple tree with 3 years of elder and suckers locations in the county where this rare There are a number of things that Allowing riverine vegetation to develop commonly celebrated users of progressive crown reduction to reduce species has been intermittently can be done to provide the habitats and digging new ponds near flight Additionally, features such as flaking deadwood in Britain. Some are highly Carol Lodge: weight load and stop gradual collapse. recorded, but detection is very difficult barbastelles require. This species paths can provide better feeding bark and trunk cavities also provide specialised, such as the larvae of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust due to the secretive nature of this favours veteran tree features for habitats for the barbastelle. species and the specialist equipment roosting and feeding. Furthermore, Orchard trees and required. Since 2015, the Hertfordshire wetland habitats and ancient woodlands Dead branches with bare wood, flaking Barbastelle Project, a partnership with ponds, streams and rivers are Matt Dodds Epicormic growth, signifying regeneration bark, stubends, splits and tears,used by project between Herts & Middlesex ideal for supporting barbastelle Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust after crown retrenchment. Protection! and bats, crevice-nesters and invertebrates the need for management Wildlife Trust and Herts & Middlesex colonies, particularly during the foraging site for birds and invertebrates. Bat Group (HMBG), has hugely maternity period. Arboreal Benign neglect is a key reason why we have lost increased the number of records of cavities often barbastelles and shed more light on Allowing large oaks with peeling bark If Brown-rotted develop where their distribution over the county. This within woodlands to grow increases you believe you heartwood branches break, up to 90% 0f our traditional orchards has left a used by culminated in the discovery of a new the number of potential roosting sites own or know of a hollow, with hole-nesters maternity colony in 2018 – only the for the bats. If tree surgery is required woodland with potential accumulated ‘Wi’ fruit for me, the apple tree do lean blossom, fruit production and all of the Chorleywood and elsewhere. These second such colony ever to be found for safety reasons, it can be helpful to debris. down low in Linden Lea’ goes the old associated ecology and ecosystem provide practical demonstration classes in Hertfordshire! retain as much of the main stem as to support barbastelle Note beetle- poem by William Barnes. But what if the services these habitats provide. for managing old fruit trees and their possible and limbs with peeling bark bats, please contact borings ! Barbastelles typically roost behind the or splits and cracks. For felling work and spider’s tree continues to lean down so low it replacements. This should ensure that webs A calloused falls over? The old tree may be wonderful The removal of lichen-encrusted limbs or at least some old fruit trees and their peeling bark plates of oak trees, but being undertaken, please consider either the Trust or ! old wound for deadwood ecology but left to its own dense ivy may seem poor conservation wildlife continue to lean down low – HMBG to request has left a devices will soon be no more. Fruit trees management. It is, however, reasonable but are not entirely lost from our crevice, with ! tend to develop veteran characteristics to keep the original tree standing, to countryside. a survey droppings and more quickly than other trees, but having retain most of its remaining old trunk a feather, Woodpecker been pruned often, they need appropriate and branching network, and to reduce drills and evidencing invertebrate avian use management to ensure they are any uneven weight-bearing load. This Martin Hicks borings maintained. Other than direct loss through will eventually result in more blossom Herts Ecology, HCC into the agricultural change, benign neglect is a and fruiting as well as a regeneration white-rotted key reason why we have lost up to 90% of regrowth. external of our traditional orchards. cambial layer Trees can be managed in rotation so as Remains of an Other than replacing trees where not to remove all such features in one Further details old Hornet’s necessary, it’s crucial to manage them go whilst others can be retained to ...of courses can be obtained nest, fallen properly helping them into senescence. allow ecological processes to run their from Orchards East from the With the right knowledge, many such full course. Unmanaged trees become ([email protected]) ! hollow features can be retained, encouraged and very vulnerable to severe weather, so and Martin Hicks even replaced to keep old orchards a if damage is to be minimised, some Veteranisation was probably initiated by a martin.hicks@hertfordshire. lightning-strike, frost, or shearing crack feature of our environment today. This management is necessary. gov.uk maintains not only local landscape To address this, expert pruning courses

! character, but also fruit varieties, cultivars, are held in Hertfordshire in Tewin, Tring, all photos: Carol Lodge Barbastelle photo:Foster Denise

The Hertfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership transform ative action of this extensive homes for roosting bats including rare rare Violet Click Beetle (Limoniscus group. Decaying wood exclusively specialist species like the Barbastelle violaceus) , which, in Britain, only develop The importance of Veteran Trees supports 6% (1,700 species ) of the bat. Eight of our seventeen British Bat in brown-rotted wood-mulch of hollow entire British invertebrate fauna and species heavily depend on tree-holes Beech and Ash trees, specifically their obligate associates (predators, and cavities as roost sites. enriched by the droppings, feathers to the barbastelle bat parasites and gallery exploiters). and bones of cavity-nesting birds. Its Also, many epiphytes (especially moss specific requirements, along with several Over two-thirds of our woodland birds and lichen species) are slow colonisers other poorly-dispersing beetle and lichen How old trees can help sustain one of our most endangered mammals are cavity nesters. The process of and are dependent on habitats which species, are so intrinsically linked to decay which begins when fungal spores show great continuity over many years, ancient trees – in particular ancient With only a small number of breeding also in splits and cracks. They prefer leaving a 15 metre buffer of uncut gain entry to a wound, is especially as is provided by veteran trees, and pasture-woodland – that it is thought roosts known to exist in the UK, the veteran trees within the shaded interior trees around ancient or veteran trees. important for hole-nesting birds such allow rich and complex communities to indicate a continuity of ancient barbastelle is one of the country’s of ancient woodland because as Marsh and Willow Tits, as the to develop over time. Some species trees and therefore veteran features rarest and most endangered mammals temperatures are more stable and Roost features can also be created decaying wood is softer than living such as the Knothole Yoke-moss will to primeval times. and is protected under National, humidity is higher, which helps them artificially by sinking upward, vertical tissue and therefore easier to excavate. only grow on veteran Beech trees. European and International legislation. save energy. They will typically move slots into oak trees or by ring-barking Even Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, When veterans are removed, its many Long-term experimentation in promotion l to reduce tree with selective crown remova roost every 2 to 3 days over the certain trees. Flat, crevice bat boxes – who will begin by excavating a small epiphytes, along with saprophytes and of veterancy is underway in the UK, Old apple and avoid further tree splitting At one time, the barbastelle was summer, so a large number of these such as the Schwegler 1FF – can be hole into fresh wood, will allow a associated wildlife, can be lost with it. including the experimentation of Old plum with significant rot and weightload f de thought to be extinct in Hertfordshire. roost sites is needed. erected in suitable habitats to rotting process to begin before saproxylic-fungal inoculation of a ith 3 years o adwood, being replaced by apple tree w There are now a few widely dispersed encourage roosting within the wood. excavating more deeply. Saproxylic invertebrates are the most variety of tree species. Large old to reduce elder and suckers own reduction locations in the county where this rare There are a number of things that Allowing riverine vegetation to develop commonly celebrated users of rogressive cr llapse. p op gradual co species has been intermittently can be done to provide the habitats and digging new ponds near flight Additionally, features such as flaking deadwood in Britain. Some are highly Carol Lodge: t load and st weigh recorded, but detection is very difficult barbastelles require. This species paths can provide better feeding bark and trunk cavities also provide specialised, such as the larvae of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust due to the secretive nature of this favours veteran tree features for habitats for the barbastelle. species and the specialist equipment roosting and feeding. Furthermore, Orchard trees and required. Since 2015, the Hertfordshire wetland habitats and ancient woodlands Dead branches with bare wood, flaking Barbastelle Project, a partnership with ponds, streams and rivers are Matt Dodds Epicormic growth, signifying regeneration bark, stubends, splits and tears,used by project between Herts & Middlesex ideal for supporting barbastelle Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust after crown retrenchment. Protection! and bats, crevice-nesters and invertebrates the need for management Wildlife Trust and Herts & Middlesex colonies, particularly during the foraging site for birds and invertebrates. Bat Group (HMBG), has hugely maternity period. Arboreal Benign neglect is a key reason why we have lost increased the number of records of cavities often barbastelles and shed more light on Allowing large oaks with peeling bark If Brown-rotted develop where their distribution over the county. This within woodlands to grow increases you b heartwood branches break, up to 90% 0f our traditional orchards elieve culminated in the discovery of a new the number of potential roosting sites o you has left a used by wn or hollow, with maternity colony in 2018 – only the for the bats. If tree surgery is required know hole-nesters woodla of a accumulated ‘Wi’ fruit for me, the apple tree do lean blossom, fruit production and all of the Chorleywood and elsewhere. These second such colony ever to be found for safety reasons, it can be helpful to nd wit debris. t h pot down low in Linden Lea’ goes the old associated ecology and ecosystem provide practical demonstration classes in Hertfordshire! retain as much of the main stem as o supp ential Note beetle- ort ba poem by William Barnes. But what if the services these habitats provide. for managing old fruit trees and their possible and limbs with peeling bark ba rbaste borings ! t l Barbastelles typically roost behind the or splits and cracks. For felling work s, plea le and spider’s tree continues to lean down so low it replacements. This should ensure that se con falls over? The old tree may be wonderful The removal of lichen-encrusted limbs or at least some old fruit trees and their peeling bark plates of oak trees, but being undertaken, please consider eith tact webs A calloused er the ! old wound for deadwood ecology but left to its own dense ivy may seem poor conservation wildlife continue to lean down low – Trus HMB t or has left a devices will soon be no more. Fruit trees management. It is, however, reasonable but are not entirely lost from our G to re crevice, with ques ! t tend to develop veteran characteristics to keep the original tree standing, to countryside. a su droppings and more quickly than other trees, but having retain most of its remaining old trunk rvey a feather, Woodpecker been pruned often, they need appropriate and branching network, and to reduce drills and evidencing invertebrate avian use management to ensure they are any uneven weight-bearing load. This Martin Hicks borings maintained. Other than direct loss through will eventually result in more blossom Herts Ecology, HCC into the agricultural change, benign neglect is a and fruiting as well as a regeneration white-rotted key reason why we have lost up to 90% of regrowth. external of our traditional orchards. cambial layer Trees can be managed in rotation so as Remains of an Other than replacing trees where not to remove all such features in one Further details old Hornet’s necessary, it’s crucial to manage them go whilst others can be retained to ...of courses can be obtained nest, fallen properly helping them into senescence. allow ecological processes to run their from Orchards East from the With the right knowledge, many such full course. Unmanaged trees become ([email protected]) ! hollow features can be retained, encouraged and very vulnerable to severe weather, so and Martin Hicks even replaced to keep old orchards a if damage is to be minimised, some Veteranisation was probably initiated by a martin.hicks@hertfordshire. r

feature of our environment today. This management is necessary. e t lightning-strike, frost, or shearing crack gov.uk s o F

maintains not only local landscape To address this, expert pruning courses e s i

! character, but also fruit varieties, cultivars, are held in Hertfordshire in Tewin, Tring, n all photos: Carol Lodge e Barbastelle D

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The Hertfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership transformative action of this extensive homes for roosting bats including rare rare Violet Click Beetle (Limoniscus group. Decaying wood exclusively specialist species like the Barbastelle violaceus), which, in Britain, only develop The importance of Veteran Trees supports 6% (1,700 species) of the bat. Eight of our seventeen British Bat in brown-rotted wood-mulch of hollow entire British invertebrate fauna and species heavily depend on tree-holes Beech and Ash trees, specifically their obligate associates (predators, and cavities as roost sites. enriched by the droppings, feathers to the barbastelle bat parasites and gallery exploiters). and bones of cavity-nesting birds. Its Also, many epiphytes (especially moss specific requirements, along with several Over two-thirds of our woodland birds and lichen species) are slow colonisers other poorly-dispersing beetle and lichen How old trees can help sustain one of our most endangered mammals are cavity nesters. The process of and are dependent on habitats which species, are so intrinsically linked to decay which begins when fungal spores show great continuity over many years, ancient trees – in particular ancient With only a small number of breeding also in splits and cracks. They prefer leaving a 15 metre buffer of uncut gain entry to a wound, is especially as is provided by veteran trees, and pasture-woodland – that it is thought roosts known to exist in the UK, the veteran trees within the shaded interior trees around ancient or veteran trees. important for hole-nesting birds such allow rich and complex communities to indicate a continuity of ancient barbastelle is one of the country’s of ancient woodland because as Marsh and Willow Tits, as the to develop over time. Some species trees and therefore veteran features rarest and most endangered mammals temperatures are more stable and Roost features can also be created decaying wood is softer than living such as the Knothole Yoke-moss will to primeval times. and is protected under National, humidity is higher, which helps them artificially by sinking upward, vertical tissue and therefore easier to excavate. only grow on veteran Beech trees. European and International legislation. save energy. They will typically move slots into oak trees or by ring-barking Even Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, When veterans are removed, its many Long-term experimentation in promotion roost every 2 to 3 days over the certain trees. Flat, crevice bat boxes – who will begin by excavating a small epiphytes, along with saprophytes and of veterancy is underway in the UK, Old apple tree with selective crown removal to reduce At one time, the barbastelle was summer, so a large number of these such as the Schwegler 1FF – can be hole into fresh wood, will allow a associated wildlife, can be lost with it. including the experimentation of Old plum with significant rot and weightload and avoid further tree splitting thought to be extinct in Hertfordshire. roost sites is needed. erected in suitable habitats to rotting process to begin before saproxylic-fungal inoculation of a deadwood, being replaced by There are now a few widely dispersed encourage roosting within the wood. excavating more deeply. Saproxylic invertebrates are the most variety of tree species. Large old apple tree with 3 years of elder and suckers locations in the county where this rare There are a number of things that Allowing riverine vegetation to develop commonly celebrated users of progressive crown reduction to reduce species has been intermittently can be done to provide the habitats and digging new ponds near flight Additionally, features such as flaking deadwood in Britain. Some are highly Carol Lodge: weight load and stop gradual collapse. recorded, but detection is very difficult barbastelles require. This species paths can provide better feeding bark and trunk cavities also provide specialised, such as the larvae of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust due to the secretive nature of this favours veteran tree features for habitats for the barbastelle. species and the specialist equipment roosting and feeding. Furthermore, Orchard trees and required. Since 2015, the Hertfordshire wetland habitats and ancient woodlands Dead branches with bare wood, flaking Barbastelle Project, a partnership with ponds, streams and rivers are Matt Dodds Epicormic growth, signifying regeneration bark, stubends, splits and tears,used by project between Herts & Middlesex ideal for supporting barbastelle Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust after crown retrenchment. Protection! and bats, crevice-nesters and invertebrates the need for management Wildlife Trust and Herts & Middlesex colonies, particularly during the foraging site for birds and invertebrates. Bat Group (HMBG), has hugely maternity period. Arboreal Benign neglect is a key reason why we have lost increased the number of records of cavities often barbastelles and shed more light on Allowing large oaks with peeling bark If Brown-rotted develop where their distribution over the county. This within woodlands to grow increases you believe you heartwood branches break, up to 90% 0f our traditional orchards has left a used by culminated in the discovery of a new the number of potential roosting sites own or know of a hollow, with hole-nesters maternity colony in 2018 – only the for the bats. If tree surgery is required woodland with potential accumulated ‘Wi’ fruit for me, the apple tree do lean blossom, fruit production and all of the Chorleywood and elsewhere. These second such colony ever to be found for safety reasons, it can be helpful to debris. down low in Linden Lea’ goes the old associated ecology and ecosystem provide practical demonstration classes in Hertfordshire! retain as much of the main stem as to support barbastelle Note beetle- poem by William Barnes. But what if the services these habitats provide. for managing old fruit trees and their possible and limbs with peeling bark bats, please contact borings ! Barbastelles typically roost behind the or splits and cracks. For felling work and spider’s tree continues to lean down so low it replacements. This should ensure that webs A calloused falls over? The old tree may be wonderful The removal of lichen-encrusted limbs or at least some old fruit trees and their peeling bark plates of oak trees, but being undertaken, please consider either the Trust or ! old wound for deadwood ecology but left to its own dense ivy may seem poor conservation wildlife continue to lean down low – HMBG to request has left a devices will soon be no more. Fruit trees management. It is, however, reasonable but are not entirely lost from our crevice, with ! tend to develop veteran characteristics to keep the original tree standing, to countryside. a survey droppings and more quickly than other trees, but having retain most of its remaining old trunk a feather, Woodpecker been pruned often, they need appropriate and branching network, and to reduce drills and evidencing invertebrate avian use management to ensure they are any uneven weight-bearing load. This Martin Hicks borings maintained. Other than direct loss through will eventually result in more blossom Herts Ecology, HCC into the agricultural change, benign neglect is a and fruiting as well as a regeneration white-rotted key reason why we have lost up to 90% of regrowth. external of our traditional orchards. cambial layer Trees can be managed in rotation so as Remains of an Other than replacing trees where not to remove all such features in one Further details old Hornet’s necessary, it’s crucial to manage them go whilst others can be retained to ...of courses can be obtained nest, fallen properly helping them into senescence. allow ecological processes to run their from Orchards East from the With the right knowledge, many such full course. Unmanaged trees become ([email protected]) ! hollow features can be retained, encouraged and very vulnerable to severe weather, so and Martin Hicks even replaced to keep old orchards a if damage is to be minimised, some Veteranisation was probably initiated by a martin.hicks@hertfordshire. lightning-strike, frost, or shearing crack feature of our environment today. This management is necessary. gov.uk maintains not only local landscape To address this, expert pruning courses

! character, but also fruit varieties, cultivars, are held in Hertfordshire in Tewin, Tring, all photos: Carol Lodge Barbastelle photo: Denise Foster Denise photo:

The Hertfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership

hts nrwHarris Andrew photos:

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A L P O C S A E L T W S I newsletter I L D L I F E NEWS FROM YOUR HERTFORDSHIRE LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES PARTNERSHIP 8679

Welcome... to the 2018 Local Wildlife Sites Lichens –Ancient Trees to orchards newsletter. In this issue we are looking at ancient and veteran Scripture-wort (Graphis scripta) Barnacle lichen (Thelotrema lepadinum) trees, which species depend on them and how to best manage Lichens are dual organisms – a Hertfordshire, is said to require a The partnership them. combination of a fungus and alga – continuity of tree cover of at least This newsletter has been produced by and often provide a useful indication Parkland in Hertfordshire 400 years. In optimum environments Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust on behalf What are Wildlife Sites? photo: Carol Lodge Carol photo: of the health and history of an in the west of the country Scripture- of the Local Wildlife Sites Partnership, ecosystem. wort Graphis scripta often occurs in supported by funding from the Environment Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) are Parklands in Hertfordshire originate from deadwood characteristics of natural individual needs will extend their lifespan early successional habitats e.g. as a Agency. sites of substantive nature either Royal hunting grounds, original woodland. The confinement of several and provide a stable habitat for the Besides being of value in their own twig species in Willow Carr, in the conservation value and although wood pasture – possibly centuries old – poorly-dispersing beetles and lichen species they support, greatly benefitting right, veteran trees support distinct east it tends to be associated with they do not have any statutory or were created from agricultural land species to ancient pasture-woodland is wildlife. associations of lichens. The species our ancient woodlands occurring e.g. status, many are equal in quality in the 18th and early 19th centuries. thought to indicate a continuity of of greatest conservation interest are on the smooth trunks of Hornbeam. to statutory Sites of Special They are often rich in veteran trees ancient trees and veteran features to The longer they are managed by careful generally to be found in tree trunks. whose longevity is mostly attributed primeval times. Such sites, however, pollarding, the longer the trees will live. The Wildlife Sites Partnership in Hertfordshire Scientific Interest (SSSI). Some may be indicative of ecological The boughs of orchard trees often includes Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, There are more than 40,000 to their historic management. In wood are few and isolated, with many in poor However, veteran or ancient trees that continuity and occur in relic draw one’s attention due to their Hertfordshire Environmental Records Centre, pasture, many trees were pollarded, with or compromised condition. have fallen out of the pollard cycle do Hertfordshire Ecology, Natural England, Local Wildlife Sites in England communities with species likely to prolific cover of foliose (leafy) lichens. photo: Carol Lodge the Countryside Management Service, overseen by 65 Local Sites the cut wood providing winter fodder not respond well to re-pollarding. They have been more widespread before These species have flourished since for grazing animals. The elevated height In Hertfordshire, we are privileged to are extremely fragile, sensitive to Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Chilterns systems, covering contrasting the industrial revolution, but now sulphur dioxide pollution has been AONB, the Forestry Commission and the What are Ancient and Veteran Trees landscapes in coastal, rural and of the tree regrowth protected the new have a number of great parklands surgery and can easily be killed by widely lost due to pollution. These reduced and tend to be better Environment Agency, and is coordinated by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. and why are they important? growth from being grazed, and the including Panshanger Park, Sacombe overzealous pruning. If work is needed communities can, for example be colonists and more widespread than urban situations. Hertfordshire regular pruning served to extend the Park, Brocket Park, Stagenhoe Park, on an old tree that has not been pruned found on Hornbeam pollards in the species on ancient trees. currently has 1,575 habitat LWS. The term ‘ancient’ refers to a tree’s as large cavities in stem and limbs, tree’s life. In more recent times, many Knebworth Park, Broxbournebury Park for over ten years, it must be done with woodlands in southern Hertfordshire Orchards in Hertfordshire often have Registered address: Together with SSSI, LWS age class as beyond full maturity, included bark and load-bearing tears, of these pollards have fallen out of and Youngsbury Park. These contain a extreme caution and with the advice of or on some of the veteran oaks in a good range and high cover of Herts and Middlesex support locally and nationally characterised by crown retrenchment water-filled hollows in limb-joints and management because the practice is variety of ancient and veteran trees, conservation experts. A living tree Panshanger Park. These specialist lichens, supporting invertebrates and Wildlife Trust, threatened species and habitats. and reduced annual incremental growth. gnarly root collars with detritus build- no longer continued, resulting in them most famously the ‘Panshanger Oak’ in provides stability for its veteran lichens are often easily overlooked, food webs in the orchard ecosystem. Grebe House, They play a critical role in Wood-decay attributes accumulate, ups and established water seepages, becoming top-heavy, unbalanced and Panshanger Park, which was allegedly features, but when a tree dies, the St Michael’s Street, such as the minute pinhead species Maintenance is an important factor: St Albans, AL3 4SN forming the building blocks of such as cavities and decay columns, as well as more deeply fissured and their survival being threatened. planted by Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th whole tree will decay faster than the lining bark crevices and small crusts Although pruning will lead to the ecological networks and Living rots, stubs, decorticate wood, and leached acidic bark. Epicormic growth century. Knebworth Park contains over rate of decay within a living tree, losing 01727 858901 towards the base of the tree. The removal of some of the lichens, it also Landscapes. flaking or fissured bark. These veteran may testify to their retrenchment and The historic practice of pollarding 500 Hornbeam pollards which date to at the habitats it provided for some of the [email protected] richness on these trees is often only creates broad, open canopies with www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk features usually naturally increase regenerative abilities, so that a living promotes the development of veteran least the mid-18th century, if not earlier. rarest species in the UK. revealed by close examination with a good balance between shade and with age, but many are a response to healthy ancient tree potentially provides features in living trees. Indeed, pasture- Registered in England: 816710 a hand lens. light for lichen colonisation. In addition, Registered Charity: 239863 environmental impacts. Such stresses a continuity of decay features over that woodland is thought to mimic the Managing veterans according to their David Williamson some fruit trees, particularly cherry, may be biotic, like fungal and bacterial of an early veteran or rotting snag. Veterans found in more sheltered and have an acidic bark suitable for Comments or attacks causing cankers, exudations Mature trees begin to naturally become The Hertfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership and rots. They can also be abiotic: humid environments usually have the species such as the bearded lichen We suggestions for richer in such decay characteristics. continuity of veteran and ancient trees in greatest variety of lichens. Many of (Usnea subfloridana). This group does not necessarily identify with or hold wounds can facilitate entry of micro- Did you know? themselves responsible for the views expressed want to future articles that locality all the way back to the ice age. these can be badly affected by sudden however, has been in decline in the by contributors, correspondents or advertisers. organisms; storms can cause limb-loss, Ancient trees are hugely valuable for Many Click Beetles, some recorded in If you preferred changes in the micro-environment, region due to pollution. In this way, shake and lightning scars; drought or wildlife. Over 20% of the UK’s 13,650 Hertfordshire, are associated with the heart They got their names from the curious way hear from to receive your making sensitive management crucial. flooding can lead to root and canopy fungal species are thought to be rot of living veteran and ancient Oaks, Ash, in which they get back on their feet, if they the changing lichen communities on you! Printed by N2 Visual Communications on Xerox Colour newsletter via die-back. Ancient woodland is also important orchard trees are good indicators of Impressions Silk, an FSC certified stock made from saprophytic (feeding on dead organic d Beech and Elms. Their life cycle is so have flipped over: They arch their back and n email, please a ll because it offers a stable micro-climate. a minimum of 50% recycled fibre, at a mill that has been matter), with the great majority of o intrinsically linked to heart rot of old living environmental change. H flip up into the air with an audible ‘click’, t awarded the ISO140001 certificate for environmental contact Carol Lodge: re The Barnacle Lichen (Thelotrema Ancient trees will more likely develop other species that utilise the dead ga trees that their presence can indicate the until they land on their feet. ar management. : M photo lepadinum), occasionally found in Andrew Harris [email protected] particular age-associated features, such wood resource relying on the initial Designed by Wildcat Design ([email protected])

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