Uk's tallest wild service tree

[David Humphries]

Back in 2011 we 'discovered' that we had amongst our fine population, the tallest Sorbus torminalis in the Uk.

 

We measured & had it verified at 25.7m and placed on the National Tree register.

It had beaten the previous champ from Tonbridge in Kent, by 1.7m.

 

 

 

 

 

It makes it the second tallest recorded native Sorbus after an aucuparia from Chesham, Buckinghamshire that is recorded at 28m

 

http://www.treeregister.org/pdf/Champion%20Trees%20native%20species%20May%202011.pdf

 

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[David Humphries]

Realising that we had custody of a 'uk gem' we took the decision to manage the tree within its environment for the benefit of its long term health & vigour.

 

The first phase of this was to release it from the competion of the surrounding canopies

 

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[David Humphries]

At the back of my mind were a couple of others of significant height that we had pencilled in for reduction, due in part to their condition and exposure.

 

So before any heigth reduction took place, we again measured to compare them to the champ.

 

As it turned out, although these are big for their species, they are a full 5m shorter.

 

So the crown for the time beinmg will stay put.

 

 

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[Peter]

Good stuff, how old do you reckon it is? Always thought of them as being fairly slow growing.

[David Humphries]

Good stuff, how old do you reckon it is? Always thought of them as being fairly slow growing.

 

We believe that the tallest is within the 100 year range (give or take a couple of decades either way:biggrin:)

 

 

 

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[coleman]

Is the champ on the west heath??

[David Humphries]

Is the champ on the west heath??

 

I'm not telling

 

 

 

 

 

We haven't disclosed the exact location on the tree register, due to management issues.

Pm me

[Amelanchier]

Any regen in the area? They seem easily out competed round my way.

[David Humphries]

Lots Tony, but mainly from sucker.

 

Although they flower/fruit profusely, the germinating seeds rarely get beyond the cotolydon stage as mice get to them out in the woods.

 

But if you can guard against this early attack, the seedlings will get away.

 

 

 

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[David Humphries]

Any regen in the area? They seem easily out competed round my way.

 

With the loss at seedling stage out in the 'woods', its definately worth the effort (as a colleague has shown) of going through the process of harvesting if you have a repopulating project in mind.

 

 

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