Ancient trees are trees of great age – over 300 years for an oak tree Ancient oaks may show some of these characteristics: • far fatter than usual with a very wide trunk • a squat or dumpy appearance • gnarled • showing signs of decay • hollow inside • gnarled roots above ground • may look in poor shape to the untrained eye (but in reality are probably very healthy for great age) You will need: • a soft ‘ribbon type’  6m tape measure or • a piece of string or rope or • be prepared to use your arms or • some friends to help you

Here is how you do it: Measure the tree at approximately 1.5m from the ground. NB If the tree is very bulbous, then at a point where the tree reverts to its usual ‘waist’ size. Mark your start point by noting the place you start or by leaning a branch against the tree as a marker or by asking a companion to mark the place with their fingers. The ready reckoner on the reverse will work out the approximate age of an oak for you. Other tree species will be different as they grow at different rates, don’t live so long (except for yews) and reach different sizes. They can be considered ‘ancient’ at a much younger age than oaks.