On the Aldershot lands we are often surrounded by trees. But do we really give them a second glance? There is a project to map ancient and notable trees and it needs your help in identifying where these old growth specimens are. TAG have done the easiest and most obvious, but there will be others known locally but otherwise unrecorded, and this needs to change.

One of the most popular spots is the top of Caesars Camp. With far reaching views Farnborough airfield, the town of Aldershot, Ash Ranges and beyond to Guildford Cathedral are all visible.

On really clear days the City of London and Canary Wharf are on the horizon, along with the Wembley Arches.

It’s a popular spot and the view has featured more than once in TAG’s picture of the week. We all spend time up there looking out across the lands to the distance.

And yet there is something very special at our backs. Alongside the new Parachute Regiment bench grows a notable pine tree. TAG would wager the tree is rarely the subject of a photo (but at least one talented photographer would disagree) and close up its overlooked as the view steals the limelight and attention, but its part of the landscape and thanks to sitting right at the end of the promontory and fort, is a landmark that can be seen for miles.

This tree is literally part of the landscape. And it’s been there a very long time. Now the tree has been added to the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory recording its presence as a notable tree.

Ancient Trees

Trees can live for hundreds of years, and a few species can live longer. Some species such as oak, yew and sweet chestnut reach 1000+ years, whereas birch and willow can be ancient at a mere 150 years old.

The category is defined in far more detail here, but suffice to say trees of this nature are truly special and real survivors.

Veterans

All ancient trees are veterans, but not all veterans old enough to qualify for ancient grading. These are the trees that might be thought of as middle aged and have some features found in ancients, but are still very important.

Notable Trees

These trees are mature examples that simply stand out in the local environment. Our pine tree at the top of Caesars Camp is a classic example and significance to the local community. They are, in simple terms, special.

Jubilee Clump

TAG believe the pine was planted to mark one of Queen Victoria’s jubilees, either the golden at 50 years, or the diamond at 60. So far we can find reference to this landmark on:

• The OS 25 inch series 1892-1914
• The OS 6 inch series 1888-1915
• The OS 1:25,000 series 1945-65
• The OS 1:10,000 series 1949-73

So its persisted as a place name for a very long time. Nowadays the OS map excludes the place name on its Landranger series (at time of writing) but the open data layer records the name Jubilee Clump.

The pine is certainly old and if planted for the Golden Jubilee then its been there since 1887, making it 137 years old. It’s not been graded as ancient but is listed as notable on the Ancient Tree Inventory website.

But all of this is based on word-of-mouth history. Is Jubilee Clump really named so because of an association with a royal jubilee for Queen Victoria?

If anyone really knows do please get in touch.

What Can You Do?

Do you know of other remarkable trees on the military lands? There are just two others recorded at Caesars Camp on the Ancient Tree Inventory website but are there more hiding in plain sight?

It will be local knowledge that is relied on to see these trees identified and recorded, so if you know of a potential candidate why not submit its details to the Woodland Trust? The details needed are very straightforward and there is a simple guide here.

So next time you are out and about give your visit a purpose and look for these trees and if you find one, record it? Even if recording isn’t for you, just be on the lands and drink in the sheer beauty, diversity and value the place offers. Always give way to troops and remember the TAG code of conduct.

As a footnote and a request, why not carry a bag and fill it with litter? On one short walk we filled two bags – one rubbish and one recycling – in no time close to a car park.