BURLEY TREES
Estimate the approximate age of a tree (species dependent) by measuring the circumference, in centimetres, around 1 to 1.5 metres above ground level. Forestry Commission: Estimating the Age of Large and Veteran Trees in Britain
Chart generated from: Tree Age Calculator
Chart generated from: Tree Age Calculator
1999 article "Ancient New Forest Trees" by Chris Read
Includes interesting section on pollarding (p69-71).
Pollarding: Tops of trees cut off at around 2.4m (8 feet) giving rise to multiple new shoots which were harvested every 11-14 years and the process repeated. Banned from 1698 (The Act for the increase and Preservation of Timber in the New Forest), although continued illegally for another 100 years.
Also: from New Forest Explorers Guide
The oldest trees in the New Forest dated by dendrochronology are from around 1640-50.
The poor soil probably restricts their age to approximately 400 years.
Much damage has occurred to woodland in recent years due to drought (1976) and storms (1987, 1990 and February 2022 Storm Eunice).
Historical Trees in and around Burley
The Twelve Apostles: Was a group of ancient oaks at Burley Lodge. Described by John Wise in The New Forest (1868) as "Boughs moss'd with age, and high tops bald with dry antiquity". One blew down in the gale of October 1891.
Sylva Britannica; or, Portraits of forest trees, distinguished for their antiquity, magnitude or beauty. Jacob George Strutt 1830.
Online version of the book available here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/sylva-britannica
Frontispiece shows The Twelve Apostles, with a description of "Burley Oaks" on pages 54-57. (click on images below for enlargements):
Online version of the book available here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/sylva-britannica
Frontispiece shows The Twelve Apostles, with a description of "Burley Oaks" on pages 54-57. (click on images below for enlargements):
Broad Oak: A group of oak trees at Burbush.
Ridley Wood: Largest circumference (and possibly oldest) oak and beech trees (same trees photographed after a gap of several years)