Ian’s little acorns are ready for a return to the woods

Oct 2 2007 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

A DAILY walk in the woods is a must for villager Ian Hunter.

Now Ian, 44, has raised 250 oak tree saplings from acorns collected in Chopwell Woods in Gateshead.

“If for any reason I don’t get my fix of walking in the woods then I tend to mope. So growing the oaks is a way of putting something back into the woods that I love,” said Ian.

Ian’s acorns were among many hundreds collected from 900-acre Chopwell Wood last year and which have been nurtured by local residents in a pioneering project by the Forestry Commission and Friends of Chopwell Wood.

The young trees will be planted back in the wood at a public event on Saturday, which will also include another mammoth acorn gathering session.

Ranger Leanne Shipley said: “Although we are banking on Chopwell’s oaks regenerating naturally this scheme is giving them a helping hand. Using the wood’s acorns means we are preserving the unique local genetic strain.

“Not all will survive the rigours of the big forest, but many will, ensuring oaks continue to flourish. We will plant more oaks next year, grown from this autumn’s seed.”

Ian gathered 650 acorns and raised them in the backyard of his terrace home in Chopwell.

“I got some pots from the Friends and scrounged others from allotment holders,” said Ian, who still faced a daily battle to grow the acorns.

“Every morning jays, magpies and jackdaws would arrive in the backyard to pull the acorns out of the pots and eat them, although I don’t know how they knew they were there. I am a bird watcher and I was torn between wanting to observe them and chase them off the pots, and in the end I got 250 saplings,” said Ian.

“I am already collecting for next year and I have a stock of acorns, hazel and beech nuts.”

For centuries Chopwell was regarded as one of the region’s best oak woods, renowned for the quality and strength of its timber.

In 1635 over 1,000 trees were felled to build the Sovereign of the Seas, the flagship of King Charles I and the world’s first three-masted sailing vessel.

But to help cope with war-time emergencies, large swathes of the beauty spot were planted with conifers in the 20th century. Now the clock is being turned back and local schools have joined in with pupils nurturing their own Chopwell oaks. For planting and seed gathering meet at 1pm in the main car park at the wood. More information from Leanne Shipley on 01388 488312 or go to www.forestry.gov.uk/ NorthEastEngland

Tony Henderson