The Trees of Acklam

 

The Trees of Acklam

The claim is often made that the name 'Acklam' means 'At the Oaks' [For the technically minded; the name is held to derive from the dative case in Saxon]. This evokes a romantic image of the Saxon hamlet of Acklam, close to its manor house and church, huddled in a clearing in a mighty oak forest. There is also a sugestion that the name has a scandinavian origin and means 'settlement on a slope'. The problem with this theory is that the slope is barely discernible.

Most studies agree that most of the land of the area was de-forested and either cultivated or grazed by the time of the Iron-age. The major planting of the trees we still admire in Acklam was done in conjunction with the construction of Acklam Hall in the latter part of the 17th century.

Opinion is divided on whether formal gardens were created in front of the Hall

 

Or whether the the vista of parkland was intended from the start.

 

In this photograph, taken in 2004, the wooded borders to the immediate house surrounds can be seen. They are known, rather prosaically, as North Wood, East Wood and West Wood. At the bottom of the photograph the beginning of the Avenue of Trees can be seen.

 

Some of the 'feature' trees in front of the Hall (beech,oak and chestnut) and some of the imported 'exotics' (cedar, sweet chestnut) together with some of the old trees in the Avenue of Trees are probably part of the original concept and some two hundred and fity years old. During their three centuries of existence the woods have undergone considerable damage, maintenance and renewal. Unfortunately, during the last half century or so there has been more damage than maintenance and renewal.

 

The tree population of the woods comprises oak, beech, chestnut,holly, lime and a fair sprinkling of sycamore. There are many purists who are dismissive of sycamore, regarding it as an upstart immigrant. Others point out that sycamores have probably been present in Britain since Roman times; this ought to be long enough to gain acceptance -- even in Yorkshire.

The Avenue consists mostly of limes, together with some splendid Scots Pine and a sprinkling of oak.

During the last few years a number of the older trees have been felled as a safety measure. A number of the limes in the Avenue were lost together with a magnificent beech close to the Hall.

Last year a beech fell into the pond when its roots were loosened after heavy rain. Extricating it from the pond without damaging the base of the pond was a tricky exercise.

 

As this beech fell, it loosened the roots of a neighbouring oak which was also removed.

A further oak on the borders of the pond was judged to be diseased and felled.

 

By now, the contractors were well into their stride and removed the huge beech (known as 'The Sixer Tree' to generations of cricket playing schoolboys).

It is possible that a study of the web site dealing with ancient trees (insert above) and a more considered aplication of risk assessment guidelines might have saved this tree for a few more years.

 

Storm damage, ageing and decay of trees are natural processes and it is inevitable that some trees, that present a danger to roads or buildings, will require to be felled. Nevertheless, sympathetic and professional management would certainly prolong the lives of trees and result in fewer removals.

 

Although the presence of dead wood amongst trees has importance in promoting insect life and, consequentially, bird life, the loss of trees would not be so distressing if there was an abundant stock of younger trees to replace the losses. Unfortunately, for seventy years, there has been little tree planting in the Acklam area. An honourable exception is the effort made by the Council to replace the lime trees of the Avenue. Regrettably this regeneration is being frustrated by the drain blockages on the land adjacent to King's Manor School that have caused the death of eight of the replacement trees.

 

Acklam 2020 has planted a number of trees in the hope of encouraging regeneration. We have planted a number of saplings in discreet places but in order to make a reasonable impact it is necessary to plant semi-mature trees -- and this costs more. Semi-mature trees not only grow more quickly to take their place in the area's scenery but, by dint of being anchored into position, they are marginally more secure against vandalism. The tree planting projects of Acklam 2020 are described in the section Tree Renewal

For each success, there are setbacks. A set of oak trees that we arranged to be planted in the grounds of St David's School were all destroyed in one night of vandalism.

This cedar will never grow to the magnificence of the two hundred year old cedars we had hoped it might one day replace.