Trees Project

SWAAG Project

Woodland, Trees and Relict Hedges in Swaledale

Introduction

This Project aims to promote further understanding and appreciation of the wealth of veteran trees and relict woodland in Swaledale, and will be carried out by interested members of the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeological Group (SWAAG) which is associated with the Friends of the Swaledale Museum.

The purpose is to record the distribution and composition of surviving woodland fragments in Swaledale, generally those small fragments of native trees which survive on limestone scars or at locations inaccessible to grazing stock, as well as relict hedgerows and individual trees ‘of a certain age’.

We shall provide a snapshot record of veteran native trees, relict hedgerows and woodland vegetation in their landscape setting and geological context in order to provide a baseline record against which their continued existence can be measured.

We shall visit very many locations, from river and dale side to the highest and most remote limestone scars. We will cover a wide area and a broad subject. A challenge indeed.

All records will be taken using the procedures recommended by the Woodland Trust and all records taken by SWAAG members will be submitted to the Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Hunt Project. Training will be arranged.

We also plan a series of monographs on specific locations and on the various tree and shrub species.

New members who would wish to take part in our tree, hedge and woodland survey will be most welcome.