Glencoyne Park
Glencoyne Park was once part of a hunting estate owned by the Duke's of Norfolk. Since Medieval times, deer, sheep, cattle and horses would have grazed amongst the trees. Today this tradition continues, with the farmers at Glencoyne grazing their sheep and shorthorn cattle in Glencoyne Park.
The National Trust received Glencoyne Park as a gift from the Scott Family
Ancient and veteran trees
Glencoyne Park boasts nearly 300 ancient and veteran trees. Many are majestic spreading oak trees, some an estimated x years old. These ancient trees are invaluable habitats for a multitude of other plants and animals. Moss and lichens grow on their bark, bats and birds shelter in the holes in their branches, and a range of invertebrates live under the bark, on the leaves and in the dead wood as it falls and rots.
There are ash, crab apple and hazel trees too. Some, especially hazel, that were once harvested by coppicing or pollarding to provide wood for building material or fuel.
Regenerating the native wood pasture
Together with their tenant farmers at Glencoyne Farm, the National Trust are managing Glencoyne Park to help the regeneration of the native wood pasture. Grazing shorthorn cattle and reducing the number of sheep in some areas increases the chances of tree saplings surviving and also ensures that the understory vegetation grows more densely.
This in turn means more habitats for wildlife. Denser ground cover also means that after heavy rain water is held longer and this helps reduce the rate of flow into the lake and hence reduces the risk of flooding.
Crab Apple planting
Crab apple saplings have been grown from the veteran crab apple trees found in Glencoyne Park. These young trees have been planted to help regeneration and ensure that the gene pool of the Glencoyne trees is maintained.
treefold:north
Created in Glencoyne Park in 2017, treefold:north encircles a young oak tree. As well as celebrating trees, this sculpture encourages us to reflect on the place of trees in the landscape. Find out more about treefold:north
