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13th October 2005

 

PLANTING OF 200 OAK SAPLINGS COMMEMORATE TRAFALGAR BI-CENTENARY

 

The Trafalgar Oaks 200 partnership will celebrate the bi-centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar by planting 200 oaks overlooking Portsmouth Harbour to commemorate the landscape and history of southern Hampshire. The planting will start at 11.00 on Friday October 21 st (Trafalgar Day).

The partnership, initiated by the Forestry Commission, the Forest of Bere Project and the Tree Council, will create for future generations a symbolic landmark which links the ancient Forest of Bere (where the trees for naval ship-building were grown) with Portsmouth Harbour (where the trees were used by the Navy).

This landmark of trees will celebrate both Nelson's great naval victory in 1805 and today's area of outstanding heritage, known as the Forest of Bere . Fifty local school children will plant the trees, accompanied by representatives of the Navy, the marines, local communities and tree organisations, on land owned by Portsmouth Water, linking the original Nelson's Monument (paid for by sailors who fought in the battle) and the Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson.

The shape of the Trafalgar Oaks 200 Monument has been designed so that the trees represent the orientation of the ships involved in Nelson's 'Crossing the T' during the battle. This living landmark will sit proudly on Portsdown Hill, overlooking historic Portsmouth Harbour , and will be visible for miles from both north and south of the hill. It will be a symbolic reminder of our naval history in a further 200 years time.

The 200 naturally generated saplings from The Queen's Inclosure in the Forest of Bere , have been selected to provide a living link between our naval history and the future of the landscape. The Queen's Inclosure was planted in the 19 th Century to provide timber for naval ships.

The planting cost is supported by the Tree Council through its programme of grants for schools and community groups to plant trees during its National Tree Week, when the remaining Trafalgar Oaks 200 planting will be completed at other selected locations in the area.

Hugh Milner of the Forestry Commission said “This partnership initiative not only celebrates an important day in Britain 's history but also the value of trees – both in the local community and as part of the nation's heritage. We are delighted that so many young people will be joining us to find out for themselves how much trees matter”.

 

Portsmouth Water's Technical Director, Andy Neve, says "It is fitting that the Company is involved in this celebration as Portsmouth Water's origins date back to the time of Trafalgar when two companies were set up to supply piped water to the people of Portsmouth . Some of the water mains that were laid at that time are still in use today! Those two companies were amalgamated in 1857 to incorporate the Company which exists today."

 

For further details contact:

Hugh Milner – Forestry Commission – 023 92 200596
Emily Preston – Forest of Bere Project – 01489 774409
Andy Neve – Portsmouth Water – 023 92 477999
Jon Stokes – Tree Council – 023 92 385095
Mrs Marie Arnott – Royal Navy – 023 92 332312
Emma Gilmour – Royal Armouries Museum – 01329 848520

 

 

Timber Use in Napoleonic Times

“Hearts Of Oak”
The Master Shipwright would inspect oak trees in the woodlands, looking for straight trunks to cleave into beams and bent sections for stronger bracings where the grain of the heartwood continued round the bend. These selected trees would be felled by men using axes and cross-cut saws and dragged out of the woods by teams of horses. Many thousands of oak trees were needed to build the Royal Navy's Ships of the Line, enabling finally in 1805 British supremacy of the seas.

 

The Forest of Bere today

The word 'Forest' was the Norman 's legal term for hunting land.  It did not mean that the land was wooded.  The Forest Laws were eventually abandoned in 1812.  The Forest of Bere today is a heritage landscape of 100 square miles, stretching from Eastleigh to West Sussex .  It supports an important range of wildlife habitats including woods, heaths, meadows, wetland and farmland.

 

Queen's Inclosure

The Queens Inclosure was once part of the wider ancient Forest of Bere landscape and was grazed by cattle and ponies like the rest of the medieval forest.  It was later enclosed by the crown (probably in the 18th century) and used as a large timber reserve, it was fenced off (enclosed) from the grazing animals to protect the trees and theft of the timber was punishable by death.  Many of the saplings used in the Trafalgar Oaks 200 plantings would have descended from the first plantations, many of which would have been planted because of the high demand for timber during the Napoleonic wars, for ships etc.

 

The Forest of Bere Project

The Forest of Bere Project is a partnership which was set up to enhance and protect the area's special character.  Working with local communities, it aims to balance the needs of countryside conservation with those of recreation and education.  For further information visit the website on www.forestofbere.org.

The funding partnership comprises: Hampshire County Council, Winchester City Council, Fareham Borough Council, the Forestry Commission and Havant Borough Council.

 

The Forestry Commission

A UK wide arm of government and the largest landowner in the country the Forestry Commission has hundreds of woodlands under management, most of which are freely open for enjoyment of the public.

On both public and private land the Forestry Commission aims to increase woodland cover, control tree felling and promote sustainable woodland management through advice and grant aid for the benefit of the nation.

Special attention is being given to public recreation and management of ancient woodland.

 

Portsmouth Water

Portsmouth Water supplies around 180 Million litres/day to 286,000 houses and businesses in South East Hampshire and West Sussex .

The Planting will take place on the Company's Fort Nelson Reservoir site which serves the Waterlooville, Cowplain, Rowlands Castle and Denmead areas.

 

The Tree Council

Environmental charity The Tree Council, the lead UK tree campaigning partnership, is dedicated to inspiring, initiating and enabling effective action for trees in town and countryside. It is an umbrella body for over 150 organisations working together for trees — planting, caring for and enjoying them — and a forum for tackling issues relating to trees and woods. Members include the Forestry Commission and range from professional, non-governmental, specialist and trade organisations, including other conservation charities, to local authorities and government bodies. For further information visit www.treecouncil.org.uk

The Tree Council offers grants to schools and community groups so that they can plant trees during National Tree Week, the annual festival it organises to celebrate trees and woods and mark the start of the planting season. It is able to make these grants largely thanks to the generosity of an anonymous charitable foundation.