TV appearance for star recorder
Shropshire Tree Warden and indefatigable ancient tree recorder Rob McBride featured on BBC Countryfile in May. As part of the television programme’s celebration of the Offa’s Dyke Path 40th Anniversary, Rob joined presenter Julia Bradbury.
They filmed a piece about some of the treasure trove of trees he has recorded for his Offa’s Dyke Ancient Tree Survey. “This will be a first,” he says of the survey, “as the great old trees have never been recorded, nor had their share of recognition. ”I started the walk in April 2008 and have just recently reached Knighton, 100 miles into the project. Only another 80 to go!”
So far he has recorded about 300 ancient, veteran or notable trees, including the one he named “The Oak at the Gate of the Dead” – on the site of the Battle of Crogen in 1165. This great tree, with a girth of 10 metres, now has its own Facebook group.
For the BBC programme, Rob walked the 12 miles from Ellesmere to meet Julia at The Oak at the Gate of the Dead where the filming took place. Then on 10 July he was invited by the Sheriff of Powys to the official Offa’s Dyke Path 40th Anniversary function.
