The third annual evening guided walk around Chipperfield Common was held on the
1 June led by Dacorum Borough Council Woodlands officer, Colin Chambers.
Colin’s theme was the six tallest trees on the common.
The first tree was probably most people’s favourite – the large sweet chestnut on the
path from the cricket pitch car park down to Apostles’ Pond. Estimated to be between
320 and 380 years old this sweet chestnut is thriving now that the space around it has
been cleared to give it more space and light.
Next on the list was the largest beech tree on the common. Beech trees are a classic
landscape tree and were historically planted around High Wycombe for its use for
making chairs. The tallest birch tree followed. Birch is known as a colonising tree as
it is often the first tree to colonise new woodland. No doubt this is helped by the seeds
being very light and a favourite of the local bird population.
The oak and holly were the next two trees. The common’s largest oak is around 250
years old and can be found on the bridlepath just beyond Apostles’ Pond. The oak is
one of nature’s most valuable trees to man with every part having a use. The wood is
used from holding up cathedral roofs to building boats, the bark is used for tanning and acorns help to fatten up pigs. Meanwhile the holly tree was surprisingly large,
reaching up to the light through the gaps in the other trees. At ground level the holly
leaves are spikey but as the height increases so the leaves lose their spikes.
The last tree was the scott’s pine. With the sun shining against the bark at the top of
the tree this made a spectacular end to the walk.
However, as an added bonus, Colin had brought his bat detector along and as darkness
fell the walkers gathered at Apostles’ Pond to watch bats flying through the trees and
over the pond. A great evening and many thanks to Colin Chambers and to Claire
Covington for organising it.
For those who want to know more about the common, and who would like to get involved in protecting and enhancing the common, why not join Friends of Chipperfield Common? To find out more contact Colin Chambers at Colin.Chambers@dacorum.gov.uk.