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Conservation > Galleries
Ancient Ash
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Ancient Goat Willow
From a visiting Tree Specialist, who visited Shrubs Farm in October 2004:
"This is just a short note to thank you once again for permitting me to look at the trees on your farm last week and so ably guiding me around the grounds, I have a great admiration for your many achievements!
"The Sallow (Salix Caprea) pollard is a very special tree, I have looked at thousands and thousands of trees in Essex but this is the first time I have ever come across a sallow so managed - I have many times seen small bushy sallows, a few approaching what I would consider tree size and rarely as coppice stool but never seen a pollard of this species. As such it is a rare tree and worthy of a high conservation status. I measured its girth at 1.5m as 9'4" (2.84m) which gives a diameter of 90.4 cms (just under 3ft) and an incredible size for such a member of the willow family. Checking the literature it seems it may be the 2ns largest sallow in G.B. and possibly the largest in England. It is miles bigger than any other Salix Caprea I have recorded in Essex. the largest UK S. Caprea would appear to be one with a girth of 11'9" (at1.1m) this is at Rie Crathie, Aberdeen (measured in 2000) I think this is a standard tree.
"The record of this outstanding tree really needs confirmation independently (I still can't believe it!) I think it well merits photographic recording (perhaps i the winter) and some thoughts as to its continued management as a pollard. I seem to remember it was also fairly well encroached by other trees so a bit of judicious tree surgery around it might be useful. I wonder also if the opportunity arises if I could have a few leaves (preferably on a small branch from the tree -just to confirm its identity?) to this end I have enclosed a self-addressed envelope, with the leaves placed in s small bag and wrapped in kitchen tissue. I also seem to remember some Ivy growing up the trunk which could in the long-term affect the tree.
"I hope these suggestions are not too onerous - but I think you are the custodian of a very special native tree.
"Best wishes and Good Luck with the Oaks!"
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Ancient Hazels
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