WORCESTERSHIRE farmers are being asked to help protect the county's ancient trees.

The Woodland Trust has issued a guide aimed at protecting the trees from modern farming practices and ensuring their survival as a legacy for the future.

"For many farmers an ancient tree in the middle of a field can sometimes present an awkward, if beautiful, obstruction," said Ted Green of the Ancient Tree Forum.

"But these living monuments are incredible pieces of our national heritage and need our special care."

Britain has more ancient trees than anywhere else in Northern Europe and the new guide shows how to best manage them and in doing so how to access the new Environmental Stewardship grants introduced in England this year.

Disease

Although most of Worcestershire's elm trees were wiped out after Dutch elm disease swept England in the 1960s - within 20 years 17 million of 23 million elms had died - the county is still home to many ancient oaks, yews and cedars.

"An ancient oak tree can be up to 1,000 years old," added Ted. "In its lifetime it will have seen the Norman Invasion of 1066, provided wood for ships to defeat the Spanish Armada and survived the Industrial Revolution.

"Given the opportunity for grants to help these trees pay their way, it would be a shame to risk losing such potential assets.

"With the help of the leaflet Ancient Tree Guides No 1, farmers can discover what effect their activity has on ancient trees and how to look after them above and below ground."

Among the recommendations are limiting the time stock graze around ancient trees.

n Copies of Ancient Tree Guides No 1 are free from Woodland Trust, Dysart Road, Grantham, Lincs, NG31 6SW