High Park, at Blenheim in Oxfordshire UK, is a SSSI of great significance for its numerous ancient oaks and the organisms associated with these trees. This book gives a detailed, lavishly illustrated and thoroughly researched description of the biodiversity and natural history of what is by several measures the most significant site for ancient oaks in Europe. It draws together the expertise of more 60 specialists, and reports on the results of in-depth surveys of High Park. Chapters cover different groups, including: flora (including bryophytes), fungi, lichens, molluscs, arachnids, flies, hymenoptera, butterflies, moths, beetles - with a special focus on saproxylic species, bugs, reptiles and amphibians, birds and mammals. Despite their undoubted importance, very few sites with ancient oaks in England, the most important European country for these magnificent trees, have seen a comprehensive published account, adding to the value of this study. Several of the contributing authors describe their survey techniques in some detail, some of which are not widely known. Records are analysed in the various chapters and often compared with data from other similar sites. Overall, the book gives encouraging evidence of the great biodiversity still to be found in England, and should help to stimulate similar efforts to uncover the biodiversity and describe the natural history of ancient parkland and woodland, so that conservation of these sites can be based on firm scientific data.
Aljos Farjon is a renowned botanist and recipient of several international awards for his work on conifers, on which he has published 11 books and more than 100 papers and articles. He is also an accomplished botanical artist, illustrating many of his books and papers. He worked successively at the Universities of Utrecht and Oxford and at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew until his official retirement; he continues at Kew as an Honorary Research Associate. In recent years, Aljos has shifted his research interests to the extraordinary wealth of ancient oaks in his adopted country, England. His Ancient Oaks in the English Landscape was named 'Reference Book of the Year' in the Garden Media Guild Awards 2017.
Introduction Aljos Farjon DOI: 10.53061/YKRB6101 1. Historical Review Alison Moller and Torsten Moller DOI: 10.53061/ZZBX6109 2. The Ancient Oaks Aljos Farjon DOI: 10.53061/WPSJ5341 3. Planted and Self-Seeded Trees Aljos Farjon and Torsten Moller DOI: 10.53061/JWXM7823 4. Flora and Vegetation David M. Morris, Aljos Farjon and Jacqueline Wright DOI: 10.53061/NSNS7740 5. Fungi (Excluding Lichens) A. Martyn Ainsworth, Richard Fortey, Alona Yu. Biketova and Laura M. Suz DOI: 10.53061/OZOM2670 6. Lichens Pat Wolseley, Neil Sanderson, Brian Coppins and Sandy Coppins DOI: 10.53061/RTDO9050 7. Snails, Slugs and Bivalves (Mollusca) Rosemary Hill, Peter Topley, Thomas Walker and Rosemary Winnall DOI: 10.53061/ZAFH4557 8. Spiders and Relatives (Arachnida) Aljos Farjon DOI: 10.53061/KRTC5727 9. Two-Winged Flies (Diptera) Peter Chandler DOI: 10.53061/PEVB9384 10. Sawflies, Wasps, Bees and Ants (Hymenoptera) Ivan Wright DOI: 10.53061/NZVF3441 11. Butterflies (Lepidoptera) Phillip Cribb and Caroline Steel DOI: 10.53061/REZP4047 12. Moths (Lepidoptera) Martin Corley DOI: 10.53061/WZHD1567 13. Beetles (Coleoptera) Benedict John Pollard DOI: 10.53061/ESXO4392 14. Bugs (Hemiptera) and other Insect Orders Graham A. Collins and Jovita F. Kaunang DOI: 10.53061/NQKI9199 15. Assessing the Importance of High Park for Saproxylic Beetles Benedict John Pollard and Keith N.A. Alexander DOI: 10.53061/NGWD5034 16. Amphibians and Reptiles Aljos Farjon and Angela Julian DOI: 10.53061/PKXT2424 17. Birds (Aves) Anthony S. Cheke DOI: 10.53061/CIGW8855 18. Mammals Ray Heaton DOI: 10.53061/KVXM4486 19. Review of Management Practices Torsten Moller, Aljos Farjon and Anthony S. Cheke DOI: 10.53061/ILNU8469
The Natural History of Blenheim's High Park is essential reading not just for Blenheim enthusiasts, but for anyone involved in wood pasture ecology, invertebrate conservation, and land management. It serves as a powerful argument for the continued protection of veteran trees and their associated organisms, setting a high standard for how the biodiversity of ancient sites should be documented, studied, and ultimately, preserved. It is destined to become a classic text in the field of British natural history. -- Roy Stewart * BNA Bulletin *
