THE Free Press ran an article last autumn about the Gwent Wildlife Trust's attempts to locate the ancient trees of Gwent.

The Wildlife Trust offered training and support for volunteer surveyors to scour the highways and byways of the county so that old trees could be recorded and saved for posterity.

Steven Rogers, the Trust's Conservation Officer said: "We want to find these old, gnarled and knotty veteran trees because they are still being lost."

Ancient trees can be many centuries old and much bigger than an average tree. Because of this great age, oaks, sweet chestnuts, yews and fruit trees often develop huge, hollow, trunks.

They become ancient monuments in their localities and even live on in place names, as at Great Oak near Raglan.

Pubs are often named after these trees, such as Royal Oak and Chequers. In fact, chequers is the common name for the now rare service tree.

Rebecca Price, a colleague of Steve's at the Trust says: "We regard these trees very highly because they are some of the most important places for wildlife and are becoming very scarce."

Since last autumn, more than 40 volunteers have been enlisted and between them they have now located over 350 trees and Chris Cooper from Monmouth has recorded more than 100 trees by himself!

The three largest trees that have been discovered so far area yew at Mamhilad (girth 11.65m), an oak at Llantillio Crossenny (girth 10m) and an oak at Wonastow (girth 10.65m).

To take part in the survey contact Rebecca Price or Rebecca Phillips at Gwent Wildlife Trust on 01600 740358, or www.wildlifetrust. org.uk/gwent and print a copy of the survey form and guidance document.