NEW FOREST WALKS : EXPLORING ANCIENT OAK TREES OF THE NEW FOREST (NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK) [4K]

[@peterfrost5475]

Excellent research as usual Dave. It is hard to imagine now, but in the sixties the Forestry Commission felled over a thousand acres of ancient oak woodland to plant conifer. A very enjoyable video, many thanks.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Peter. Yes, somehow conifers just don't seem to have the same "character" of some of the old oaks & beeches!

[@ianluke3326]

What an interesting video Dave, some of these old trees would have a tale to tell if the could talk!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Ian. Hope you are well. Yes - I expect they could tell a story or two!

[@honeyskyx2458]

I have just discovered your channel and I absolutely love your videos, especially the purbeck ones !

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. There are a few more "Purbeck" videos coming up on the channel soon.

[@inarcadia3296]

What a fascinating exploration, with the beautiful colours of the forest. Well done for all the research. Logan looked a little confused by the end of the step count, very funny!!

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. yes, Logan is usually better at counting than me!

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Nice video Dave. I hadn't realised that some of the old oaks had names, but that was quite interesting. There's another one in Savernake forest, called Big Belly Oak, but like the ones you visited, is hollow. Another one I know of is the Gospel Oak in Hampage wood near Ovington.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lionel. It is great that some of the "big" oaks have names but quite sad when they eventually fade away. Nothing lasts forever I guess!

[@nature_photography_yukon]

Great video Dave, love all the oaks. Logan is so gentle and well behaved, love his stripey coat. Thanks for sharing!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Ellie & indeed thank you for watching.

[@WanderingwithWatto]

Thoroughly enjoyed this Dave. Some great detective work too. Fabulous are to explore and one we keep meaning to come and see for ourselves. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend. 👍🏻🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. Well worth a visit - you will have a lot of fun!

[@keithjoseph5671]

Wonderful oak tree in the new forest and with stunning beauty

[@DaveFord]

Many thanks Keith.

[@ianmccaughan7121]

Well done Dave and Logan .What a great idea making one on such amazing oak trees .The New Forest is a wonderful place to see at any time of year .

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Ian. We had a lot of fun putting that video together!

[@dianeknott3655]

This was fascinating, Dave, as I've always been intrigued by the trees in England. In fact, I commented on it to a British friend and guide on one of our trips there. I don't think he quite understood how awed I was. But you have to take into consideration that I live in the north of Pennsylvania which was heavily deforested in order to provide building materials back in the 1700s and 1800s as the US expanded. The hillsides here were stripped bare. Fortunately, the government began a reforestation program (under Roosevelt I believe) that also helped with unemployment during the Depression, called the Civilian Conservation Corps (The CCC as more commonly called). One of my uncles lived in one of the CCC camps as a young man, and helped plant trees to bring this area back to life. It's now quite beautiful, but of course, we don't have virgin timber with the girth as measured in England. I have taken several photos of the amazingly huge trees next to Herstmonceax Castle with my late husband and our friend both standing alongside them for scale. Had I another life to live, I'd surely come back to England with my paints and would definitely put these beauties onto my paper with brush and watercolors.

[@DaveFord]

These trees certainly make great subjects for painting, for sure. Thanks for watching Diane.

[@eldred1809]

Snazzy jacket His Lordship is wearing Dave! I think he was joining you when you were pacing out. Trees are an underrated feature of a walk, any time of year, peering up into the branches for birdlife etc offers a welcome breather very often, and the new spring and fading autumn colours are a feast for the eyes. Hope you enjoyed your soup and pint, and a packet of crisps I shouldn't wonder. Bev.

[@DaveFord]

That was Logan's "extra thick" coat - it was a chilly day for sure! Looking at the video clip of me pacing out - I think Logan was wondering what I was up to at the end!

[@geoffw8565]

I enjoy black and white landscape photography and trees such as those magnificent oaks in the New Forest always make for a great photo ! Always look forward to your videos Dave. Cheers !

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Geoff. That 1895 photo was certainly very useful in trying to track down the actual location of both the King Oak & Queen Oak.

[@laviniagray5637]

Logan, I like your winter coat. Dave glad that you can read a map, I don't think I have ever seem a map like that. (Only a pirate's map.) What a different walk. If only the trees could talk. Well done.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Lavinia. Logan certainly needed his thick Winter coat that day!

[@jhnshearn51]

Once again many thanks Dave, the videos that you make are in a league of there own, quite unparalleled in my humble opinion can't wait for the next one!!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks for your kind comments John.

[@ralphfeay8857]

Love oak trees thanks for all your research nice to see Logan enjoying a whippet zoom. God bless from the both of us

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Ralph. Yes, Logan certainly enjoyed that sandpit!

[@roseybut]

Thanks Dave. Some magnificent old Oaks. After that a pint of Ringwood best would go down a treat.

[@DaveFord]

Yes indeed - my favourite!

[@TheCountryTraveller]

Very interesting video Dave. Great that you managed to find some of the magnificent oaks that are no longer so magnificent. Very well researched. I haven't come across the Moyles Court Oak before but I will definitely go and find it! best wishes, Rob

[@anthonyveal7167]

excelant loved it

[@DaveFord]

Thank you Anthony.

[@twobearsontour]

That looks like a lovely location. I've never been to the new forest. Love your doggie.

[@DaveFord]

You will have to visit the New Forest soon - there is so much to explore in the area!

[@davidkeel]

Great video again Dave. The research is excellent.. The New Forest is somewhere I want to get for the autumn leaves.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks David. Yes, Autumn is a great time to enjoy the New Forest - the colours can be amazing.

[@davidkeel]

@@DaveFord okay I will take a drive from Bognor. : )

[@oldcrow4301]

Another lovely walk Logan and of course Dave. Always a joy to watch…Thank you.

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. :)

[@craigmarsh3221]

Cracking video dave very enjoyable if you would like to see big oak trees you must take a trip to savernake forest near Marlborough it's a lovely place to walk it's got the longest avenue in England about six miles long keep the videos coming brilliant stuff

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Craig. Good idea about the Savernake Forest - might add that to the 2024 list as I hope to start to do more in Wiltshire.

[@newforestexplorer]

Great video Dave! I found an interesting oak not too far from Pig Bush car park in the forest the other day. I might put it up later as a short 👍🏻

[@DaveFord]

Thanks. There are certainly some great specimens to be found in the New Forest for sure.

[@richardhensser276]

Very interesting Dave. especially the piece on St. Peters Oak said to of been planted in William III was king (1689).I have visited most of the largest Oak Trees in the New Forest and just outside the NF ie; the Oakley Oak near Mottisfont , girth 11.15m (2011) is the largest Oak in Hampshire.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Richard. Yes, Logan & I visited the Oakley Oak when we did our walk from Michelmersh. A splendid specimen indeed. The video of that walk can be seen at kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3W8fWx9esd3fK8

[@Originalspruce]

An interesting walk Dave. I've visited Major Oak several times living up here and it is truly magnificent. I've been meaning to visit Bowthorpe oak for a few years. Your video has prompted me to get over and see it!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Mark. I just love visiting these Oaks - they really are something special.

[@Caj55]

A well researched ,interesting video. I must say , the Moyle's Court oak looks a bit sad without foliage,having only seen it in summer. Thanks for a great video.

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Colin and indeed thank you for watching.

[@jeanblemings5352]

A fascinating video and, as usual, meticulously researched. The ancient oaks really have huge personalities even in their names. Loved the old photos and postcards included in the video. Glad Logan got some play time too!

[@DaveFord]

Thanks Jean. Yes, that sandpit is Logan's favourite part of the New Forest!

[@Oakleaf700]

One old Beauty near where we live, sadly blew down. I celebrated my 60th Birthday under it when it was in fine fettle {Covid lockdown era}..and It was so sad to see it fallen last year. Oaks are truly magnificent. {Stoke Park, Bristol}. Re pollarding, French Oak is grown as a crop, closely planted, for single, straight lengths ..{Son is green oak timber framer}.

[@DaveFord]

Yes, it is always so sad when these great specimens reach their end after so many years.

[@Oakleaf700]

@@DaveFord They have planted some tiny Oak saplings there..A strange thought that none of us will ever see them into Maturity..But the selfless people who planted magnificent Lime and Beech avenues knew that they would never see them at their peak of maturity , either. At Westonbirt Arboretum, there are some oaks grown as a crop.. to be felled around 2112! {Already 100 or so years old}

[@Oakleaf700]

Logan looks a lovely boy..Lovely conformation.

[@DaveFord]

Logan is a good lad - still in fine fettle now that he is a "veteran" (seven years old)!

[@Oakleaf700]

@@DaveFord He looks gorgeous. My little Whippet was the smallest of the litter, she has very expressive ears and her front is really too narrow to do conformation showing, but she is a superb 'Therapy' dog, where her ears are an asset {People find them 'cute'}

[@laviniagray5637]

Nice that Logan got to ZOOM. thank you.

[@DaveFord]

Yes indeed. It is Logan's favourite part of the New Forest!

[@beejoyful7679]

We love watching your walks and this terrific oak tree hunting adventure made me wonder if you’ve ever tried Geocaching? I did a quick Google search and saw there are some in the New Forest, with Ashurst having approximately 1,300 and a further 1,000 in Brokenhurst, among over 70,000 in England and approximately 2,500,000 worldwide. My dog loved going for Geocaching walks and was often quicker to find them than me once she learned what we were looking for. 🦮🌏🧐 ☺️ Hello to your lovely Logan and Fiver, also 🍖🦴

[@DaveFord]

Thank you. No, I have never tried Geocaching although I have come across a few of the small containers on my travels. Sounds fun though! Thanks for watching.