A CONSERVATION charity is calling on the public in Scarborough to help it map the region's oldest trees.
The Woodland Trust has used historical maps to help it find and protect ancient trees, and has launched a website to help tree-hunters navigate their way around the countryside.
The website shows Ordnance Survey maps from the 1840s overlaid with t
he current road network so woods, copses, parkland, buildings and streets which existed in the past can be located.
According to the trust, ancient trees – those with the saggiest, fattest trunks – are living relics, and the UK probably has more than any other country in Northern Europe.
However, their locations are unknown, so it is asking members of the public to join the Ancient Tree Hunt, recording trees they find at www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk
The project aims to record at least 100,000 surviving ancient trees throughout the UK by 2011.
project manager Nikki Williams said: "These wonderful maps are helping us identify some of the best places to search for remaining ancient trees.
"People joining the Ancient Tree Hunt can step back in time to see former landscapes of parks, gardens and tree-lined avenues – all strong clues to follow up to find surviving ancient trees as well as a fascinating glimpse of local history."
The full article contains 223 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper.
