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Parkland
Parkland is the term given to open pasture or grassland, scattered with a variety of old or large trees, under which livestock i.e. cattle, sheep or deer graze. Parklands often have a long history going back to the Medieval Royal Hunting Forests or even the original primary woodland.
The most important parkland for wildlife is that containing large numbers of veteran trees, with these being more abundant in the UK than elsewhere in Europe.
Parklands are also of historic, cultural
and landscape interest. For more information on the history of some
of the Peak District parklands go to the time section on houses,
hall and parklands.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Veteran Trees
A distinctive feature of the English landscape, veteran trees are those that have reached a significant age or size. They are of great wildlife value, often gnarled with large cavities, missing branches and even a hollow trunk. Always an impressive sight, veteran trees often form part of our cultural heritage with associated ghost stories and childhood tales.
Veteran trees can be any species.
Certain trees naturally live longer than others – oaks, for example, can
live well beyond 400/500 years. Ash on the other hand tends not
to live as long. So a veteran oak maybe twice as old as a veteran
ash.
Veteran trees are often found within parkland.
In the Peak District, Chatsworth House and its parkland (Old Park) is arguably the finest example. Ancient pollarded oaks command large areas of hillside. Although there is no public access to the ‘Old Park', the parkland surrounding Chatsworth House is open to the public.
Veteran trees can also be found as part of a village green, at the corners of field boundaries or standing by themselves in a field - a ghost of a former hedgerow. Road verges and churchyards are also good locations.
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