(Ancient Oak on the Rec., Wildflower Planting, Future Projects, Bats in Great Bowden, Parish Footpath Survey 2020-2021)
Ancient Oak on the Rec.(Grid Ref SP74358853) – Mature Quercus robur standard
Oak on the Rec. late September 2021
Saving the Oak on the Rec.
October 2021
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/tree-of-the-year/
Most people who live locally know about Great Bowden Recreation Ground but not everyone
knows the story of the oak that stands near the community pavilion.
There was concern that the tree was beginning to look unwell particularly when areas of bark fell off. It was suggested to the parish council that the tree should be felled for safety reasons but after careful examination by 2 tree experts it has been proclaimed healthy enough to last for another 50 years at least and so will probably outlive us all. It just needs a little” TLC”.
Let’s start at the beginning; the oak is between 430 and 520 years old and so could have been an acorn when a young Catherine of Aragon arrived in England to marry, not Prince Henry but his older brother Prince Arthur. Prince Arthur died very soon after and Catherine was married to Henry VIII in 1509. By the end of the Tudor period in1603 with the death of Elizabeth I our oak would have become a substantial tree.
The oak then stood in open ground rather than woodland in the South Field of the Open Fields of Great Bowden. Our experts say the spread of branches indicates this. You can still see the remains of the ridges and furrows on the Rec. And there it stood as the years passed offering shelter from sun and rain to local people while they tended their strips on the nearby furlong. All changed in 1776 when the fields were enclosed. The Rec. area was probably pasture and not ploughed as the ridge and furrow earthworks still remain.
All change again in 1906 when the Rec was opened and our oak was joined over the next few years by horse chestnut and small leaved lime trees around the perimeter. Then the houses in Station Road arrived and the oak still held its ground. So next time you are out for a walk just stand and look and appreciate the oldest living thing in the parish. Treat it with respect, don’t touch or get too close as the ground has been compacted too much in the past and a fence and mulch are prescribed by the experts. This tree is home to birds, possibly bats and certainly a vast array of insects.
September 22nd 2021
The ancient oak is being entered in the Tree of the Week competition held by the Woodland Trust. Weekly winners are chosen by a panel of experts but the prestigious Tree of the Year award is voted for by the public. Entries are chosen from the Tree of the Week winners.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/tree-of-the-year/
September 17th 2021
We hope the ancient tree has been saved.
A further meeting was held with members of the parish council and environmental group with Stewart Marshall who took over from Peter Kenyon as Head of Forestry and Arboriculture. He agreed with all Peter Kenyon’s comments and thought the tree roots were strong; inspected the rotted leaf mould that had been kept and thought it was be fine as a mulch and should be topped with well rotted chippings. The metal fencing should be installed and heavy equipment should not be used near the tree.
Summer 2021
A temporary fence has been erected around the tree.
August 28 2020
An urgent meeting (parish council and environment group of Neighbourhood Plan) was held to inspect the tree with Peter Kenyon, retired Head of Forestry and Arboriculture at LCC.
He considered the oak to be pretty sound, between 430 and 519 years old with a circumference of 4.7 metres. There were no signs of mould, rot or fungus and the dead branches were quite normal and suggested the tree was retrenching (killing off unnecessary branches). He thought the tree had stood alone during its lifetime because of the horizontal position of the main branches. He gave instructions to the parish council for work to protect the roots by way of mulch and fencing. The tree was also home to many insects and also possibly some of the bat population of the Rec.
Summer 2020
We received worrying news that the parish council had been informed that the ancient oak on the Rec. was showing signs of decay and would possibly need to be felled. Areas of bark had fallen from the tree.
Wildflower Planting
9th October 2021
Further wild flower plant plugs for both clay and hedgerow conditions have been added. These were grown by volunteers in the village during the summer.
The site will now be left tidy to rest during the winter months.
September 25th 2021
The dead vegetation has been raked off and piled up under the tree at the end of the long verge. Here it can compost and also provide shelter and hibernation for any small creatures including hedgehogs.
September 22nd 2021
The designated verges on Main Street
have been cared for, and when necessary, watered by volunteers from the village including several members of Great Bowden Heritage. Now that the flowering season has finished the vegetation has been scythed and then left for the seeds to drop off. The dead vegetation will be raked off towards the end of September and composted.
Additional plant plugs will be planted and the verges then left to rest during the winter. We look forward to seeing these wild flower verges develop and bloom in the coming years.
Earlier blogs under April 19th 2021 and before.
Information on previous natural heritage projects can be found on this website, at :
Get in touch if you'd like to get involved in re-invigorating our village wildflowers.
Future Projects
October 2021
We have had a rather inactive summer with our only event being the Finds Day on The Green in Great Bowden on 17th July as part of the Council for British Archaeology National Archaeology Festival.
It was rather disappointing as we only had two sherds of post medieval pottery brought in plus some stones from Yorkshire with one possible fossil. This was very different to the past when we have had more interest. A lot of people came to speak to us but they were almost all long time residents of the village whom we knew well. We need to find a way of reaching out to the new residents of the village.
We also attended the Open Day at the Church on 8th August when several people spoke to us and took our contact details but we have heard nothing since. Lack of volunteers seems to be affecting many local groups and we have come to the conclusion that we should encourage “community” involvement in whatever way people want to give. Many of our core members from the village are now over 70 with increasing health and mobility problems.
This website gives you access or links to many of our reports and past projects over the last 20 years. We would like to continue to explore and discover the historic and natural heritage of Great Bowden but need interest, enthusiasm and responsibility from younger residents.
We are opening things up to the community.
If you have an idea for a suitable project (historic, archaeological or environmental), please get in touch.
We are currently without restrictions for archaeology but nearing the end of the dig season.
Once the ground gets wet it is difficult to get through the clay here.
Unfortunately we haven’t had any interest from anyone in the parish either offering a site for a test pit or offering to run a dig. We still have the kit and are more than happy to do a training programme for anyone interested.
Just get in touch via our email. we would love to hear from you.
If you have an idea for a community action for the coming autumn and winter months (something like the footpath survey undertaken last year), please get in touch.
We are more than happy to have a youth page on the website devoted to projects undertaken by young people and their families.
Further information on blog dated 20th June about Finds Day 17th July and February 6th 2021 about Amateur |Archaeologists wanted.
We look forward to hearing from you - greatbowdenheritage@gmail.com
Bats in Great Bowden
February 9th 2021
We may possibly have several species of bat living in the Rec and Millennium wood including the Whiskered bat and the Brown long-eared bat. They will be waking up from hibernation at the end of March and will we hope be delighted with the new bat friendly amber street lights that should be installed by then. Volunteers will then resume the echo-location survey work in the area.
Parish Footpath Survey 2020-21
See September 14 2021 and previous blogs.
The report to Leicestershire County Council is now on this website under Fields, Routes and Borders section.
Great Bowden Parish Footpath Survey: 2020 to 2021
See September 14 2021 and previous blogs.
The report to Leicestershire County Council is now on this website under Fields, Routes and Borders section.
Great Bowden Parish Footpath Survey: 2020 to 2021