Trust Woodland to Supply Timber
What do Acute Oak Decline, The Red Squirrel Survival Trust and the silviculture reduction of oak rotation from 140 years to 100 years have in common? I can think of two or three answers around the work of the late Peter Goodwin.
Peter was from a family of cabinet makers and with Lewis Scott founded the Woodland Trust a charity focused on forestry and users of the different types of wood. The trust is a fount of knowledge about our native trees, tree planting advice and woodland based education.
Acute Oak Decline (AOD)
- AOD is an aggressive disease which can result in high levels of tree mortality within 5 years of diagnosis.
- Like chronic Oak decline, AOD affects pendunculate and sessile oak trees that are over 50 years old
- AOD is caused by a pathogenic bacteria that attacks the trunk of the tree causing a dark, sticky fluid to ooze from cracks or lesions in the bark.
- Trees may also suffer from canopy dieback, similar to that in chronic oak decline.
- Chronic Oak Decline is a less vociferous disease caused in part by insect damage caused by the leaf roller moth caterpillars .
- The Woodland Trust has sponsored research into the problems and potential treatment.
The Red Squirrel Survival Trust
- The American grey squirrel is a destructive pest that has displaced many colonies of red squirrels.
- By keeping reds and greys apart, red squirrels can be allowed to thrive protecting the biodiversity of Britain’s native woodlands.
- Other activities of the trust include establishing new red colonies across the UK wherever feasible and funding research.
 Ancient and veteran trees
- The British love ancient trees, the stories associated with them, cultural connections and historic uses of timber for dwellings ship building etc.
- The number of ancient trees in the UK (127,595) is exceptional. Many look special and support rare fungi, plants and animals.
- Visit the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory to find ancient trees near you. ‘You’ll be able to record one that is missing or search the database for the largest or oldest trees in any part of the UK.’