The Tree Register of the British Isles

The Prince of Wales to become Patron

The Tree Register is pleased to announce that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has agreed to become its sole Patron.

Colin Hall, Chairman of the Trustees, said “We are delighted that His Royal Highness, with his close personal interest in trees and the natural environment, will become patron of The Tree Register. This is a great honour for us and an endorsement of the value of the work of the charity.”

The Prince of Wales succeeds The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire who has been patron of The Tree Register since its formation in 1988. “We are greatly indebted to The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire who has championed the cause of The Tree Register since its inception”, added Colin Hall

“We are also pleased to welcome as trustees Tony Kirkham and Rupert Eley, whose tree knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the continuing growth and development of The Tree Register.”

Tony Kirkham is head of the Arboretum at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Rupert Eley manages his own arboretum at East Bergholt Place in Suffolk.

Note to editors

1. The Tree Register, a registered charity, was founded in 1988 by the internationally acclaimed dendrologist, Alan Mitchell and Victoria Schilling for the purpose of taking over, developing and expanding, for the benefit of the public, the extensive arboricultural records which Alan Mitchell had built up during his career at the Forestry Commission, and subsequently with Victoria Schilling. Alan Mitchell followed in a long tradition of tree recorders dating back to the 17^thcentury when John Evelyn, one of Charles II’s principal advisors, published the first list of just over 40 heritage trees.
2. Since its inception, The Tree Register has computerised and expanded its database to include over 150,000 notable and ancient trees, including exceptionally large, rare and remarkable trees, growing in the British Isles. Several thousand records each year are added by a network of volunteers, headed by the Registrar, professional arboriculturalist, David Alderman.
3. The collective data constitutes a unique record of the distribution and rate of growth of trees throughout the British Isles. Its value for reference and research purposes is unequalled. The wealth of data is referred to by scientists, the media, research students and others with a professional or amateur interest in trees. Tree Register statistics are commonly quoted in books, magazines and TV programmes.
4. The Tree Register has established the definitive list of ‘champion’ trees of all the major species in the British Isles, leading to the publication of its book, ‘Champion Trees of Britain and Ireland’ ,edited by Dr Owen Johnson, assistant registrar, who also recently edited ”The Collins Tree Guide”- the most complete field guide to the trees of Britain and Europe.
5. The Tree Register maintains a web site www.tree-register.org to make available world wide the treasure house of information in the Register and to enable supporters and others to access readily that information

The Tree Register of the British Isles is a Registered Charity No.801565