A lesson in the woods

Clive Humphreys

Clive is the Tree Warden for Oundle and in early May 2026 he attended an induction session to learn about Rockingham Forest Vision’s latest project the Ancient Tree Hunt.

He has a Diploma in Ecology and Woodland Management, is the retired Head of Design and Technology at Oundle School and also a Master Silversmith (Freeman of the City of London).

There is a something very special about a woodland in spring, even in the centre of busy Corby. The bright and glossy glow from the multiple green shades of fresh new leaves. The dappled bright sunlight through oxygenating new foliage. The natural magic of nature’s solar cells ready to spark the mornings to life. Time to breathe in, everything ready to greet the day.

What could be a better way to start a lesson in identifying veteran or ancient trees in an Ancient Woodland? A small group of us were greeted with fresh tea and coffee by Adam, Sophie and Barrie, our mentors for the day. They then introduced us to the idea that even here in the centre of Corby there were veteran or even ancient trees to be found in the Hazel and Thoroughsale Woods. These woods are 76 hectares of Ancient Woodland, land that has been covered by trees for over 400 years is classified as ancient, a remnant from the once huge Rockingham Forest. They are green witnesses to the many changes Corby has seen over the years, still there, right in the middle of the town. We didn’t know what to expect or how far we would have to look to find evidence of veteran trees. Would we even find any?

Two hundred metres along a busy footpath and there right in front of us was a magnificent Oak, showing all the signs of a veteran. Large trunk with some dead branches, large scars in the bark, missing limbs, moss, lichen and fungi covering the north facing sides all on show - just there at the edge of the path with people cycling, running, and walking their dogs, not noticing it or its age because of its familiarity. Hiding in plain sight.

We made a quick visual estimated measurement, then a tape measure was used confirming its girth was 3.7 metres, measured 1.5 metres above the ground. The growth factor arithmetic starts here. Common UK broadleaf trees put on about 1.5-2cm in circumference a year. In some circumstances, in parkland for example, it can be up to 2.5cm a year. So by measuring circumference and dividing by 1.5, 2 or 2.5 you can get a rough idea of age. This is ‘Mitchell’s Rule’, named after the late UK tree expert Alan Mitchell, this meant our first tree was about 185 years old.

We were enthused, the tree was not ancient but definitely a veteran – wow – how many were there in this wood? They were all around us, big trees everywhere, right where we walked, quietly growing year on year getting on with their lives.

We came across a solitary Hawthorn in full bloom. How old could this be? This tree, usually found cut back in hedges, was a stand-alone, magnificent, covered in white flowers. Could this be old? Girth was measured. Yes it was old by Hawthorn standards. What a find, once again right by a tarmac pathway, walked past every day for years by so many people. Unnoticed as a veteran tree but probably admired for its once-a-year show of amazing spring blossom.

We found two more Oaks and an Ash and these were too measured. Then we walked back towards Corby past the Boating Lake to discover an old specimen of a coppiced hazel that had long grown out but was recognised by its huge ground level ‘stool’, posing another problem, how to calculate the age of something that has been cut and recut over many years? Down to ground level is the answer, as low as you can go and a very long tape. It’s amazing to think its branches had probably been used with other parts of coppiced areas in the grove to make sheep hurdles, fencing or charcoal long ago when Corby was just a village

What a morning! So much seen just by taking the time to look, right there in the centre

of town, every walk will never quiet be the same. We all thought we were good

observers but all it takes is some wonderful teachers to make you look just that little bit more.