THE Green Ilminster’s Tree group has recently undertaken a new enterprise to seek out and record ancient trees in the area.

The group has been working with the Woodland Trust to get more information about the Ancient Tree Inventory.

A Green Ilminster spokesperson said: “For the past four years we have been planting trees locally and will soon be able to celebrate our 4,000th planting.

“A lot of these trees have been supplied to us by the Woodland Trust and recently one of their officers came to talk to us about their Ancient Tree Inventory.

“This is a great example of citizen science at work. Anyone is free to add what they believe to be an ancient tree onto their map, via their website.

“This is important because ancient trees play a critical role in supporting a wide diversity of birds, insects, and lichen for example.

“They are also part of our heritage, like old buildings, but don't have the same protection. Identifying and recording them makes them more visible and we are better able to appreciate them and protect them from destruction.

“In our session, we learnt how to take the correct measurements and record the necessary information.

“We have already made a couple of excursions into the local countryside and have logged more than a dozen of Ilminster’s most iconic trees.

“These include the Silver Lime next to the theatre and the massive Tulip tree in a private garden on North Street.

“We welcome new volunteers and anyone wishing to help should visit greenilminster.org.uk to register their interest. We will contact you to let you know when we are planning our next foray.”