The Ash Project

Ash Identification-

Can you identify an ash tree? Leila Todhunter from the National Trust explains how to identify ash trees and explains some of the features of the tree which make it unique.

Art from Ash - Opportunities from Loss

With the loss of ash trees, Charlie Whinney is looking for opportunities to continue working with ash despite the presence of dieback. The future inevitably involves fewer ash trees and the nature of Charlie's work will continue to evolve.

Pollards on the Farm-

Will Chaplin Bryce from Low Bridge End Farm talks us through the pollarding process and how to identify them in the landscape. With many ash pollards on their land, Will explains how they were traditionally managed and what the products would have been used for.

Coppice Management-

Gareth Thomas from Woodmatters talks us through the coppicing process and explains the community wood share project which introduces local people to woodland management.

Ancient Woodland Restoration-

Tim Wood shows us how PAWS (plantation on ancient woodland) restoration has been implemented at Low Park Wood. This film looks at how the process is carried out and the impact that ash dieback has had on their plans for the future.

Why Cut Down 100yr Old Oaks?-

Richard Tanner from the National Trust explains why felling oak trees and ring barking others could be helpful in understanding the future of ash trees in these woods. An ancient woodland, Dodgson Wood provides an ideal site for some experiments in woodland management.

Restock Alternatives in a Commercial Woodland-

Meet Tim Wood, a ranger restoring local woodland to a more natural cover and improving the environment and habitats for wildlife. Ash regeneration would have been extremely useful, but dieback has put paid to that plan, so what are the alternatives?

Why Coppicing is Good for Butterflies -

Howe Ridding is one of the largest coppice schemes in the North West of England and has been worked since the 1500s. This film explores some of the history of the area and it's importance for wildlife, particularly Fritillary butterflies.

Pollards and Dieback-

In 2017 the Ancient Tree Forum held a meeting in Hartsop, near Ullswater. This valley is home to approximately 200 ancient and veteran trees of which 60% are ash, many of which have been pollarded. The valley provides a great insight into how ancient trees were managed and their significance to the landscape.