03 June 2012

Fairwood's Oaks

Chicken-of-the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)
There are some very nice Pedunculate Oaks (Quercus robur) at Fairwood. Those shown below were measured as mostly 2.0m-2.5m in circumference, but one was an impressive 6.4m. I'd be interested to know if there are any bigger trees in our area. These mature trees mark ancient boundaries with the enclosed land being largely dominated by Rusty Willow (Salix cinerea ssp. oelifolia) and Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) with a field layer supporting stands of Remote Sedge (Carex remota), Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis) and mosses such Sphagnum spp. and Thuidium tamariscinum.
A number of ornamental planted trees were also noted including what looks like Dutch Elm (Ulmus x hollandica), but the leaves were about 5m too high to confirm!
Dutch Elm

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