Nature Features

The Marks Hall Estate, Coggeshall is home to some fine veteran trees.  One tree, The Honeywood Oak is around 700-years-old, making it the oldest on the estate.  Having stood on the estate for so many years, it has, in its time seen numerous monarchs, wars and increases in population. 

Veteran oak

The tree is not just important historically, but also for wildlife.  The damaged areas have become home to countless creatures, where it almost acts as another world for them.  Some creatures live in the tree and never have to go anywhere else.

One side of this veteran tree looks like dead wood, but the tree is still sending out new branches all the time.  The tree is managing its decline by producing areas of dead wood, dropping branches over the years and rotting back.  The tree wants a much smaller canopy and with the help of the Marks Hall estate they can help the tree achieve this, by keeping the canopy back and encouraging healthy young shoots to produce.

We're becoming more aware of veteran trees by recording trees on websites and with interactive maps.  Sites like the Tree Register of the British Isles and the Ancient Tree Forum.  There are more veteran trees around that originally thought, with more on the British Isles than the continent.

BBC Essex Renee's been along to Marks Hall, Coggeshall, with the Curator Jonathan Jukes.