Chaucer once said that ‘from small acorns do mighty oak trees grow.’

Saffron Walden Reporter: Ian Pease - NT Hatfield Forest Conservation Warden, Councillor David Morson – Leader of UDC Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Mark Lemon – Hatfield Heath Independent ward member, Councillor Jackie Cheetham – UDC Deputy Leader, Councillor Cant, Roy Trollope - NT Hatfield Forest volunteer Roy Trollope and John Mitchell – UDC Chief ExecutiveIan Pease - NT Hatfield Forest Conservation Warden, Councillor David Morson – Leader of UDC Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Mark Lemon – Hatfield Heath Independent ward member, Councillor Jackie Cheetham – UDC Deputy Leader, Councillor Cant, Roy Trollope - NT Hatfield Forest volunteer Roy Trollope and John Mitchell – UDC Chief Executive (Image: Archant)

That will hopefully be the outcome from a tree-planting ceremony which took place at the National Trust’s Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve on Monday. (April 22)

Cllr Christina Cant, chairman for Uttlesford District Council, planted a three-year-old oak sapling to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

It is hoped the sapling, which was planted inside a wooden tree guard next to an old oak pollard on Bush End Plain, stand high and mighty for centuries.

The tree guard will help protect the sapling from the ancient forest’s resident herd of grazing red poll cattle.

Hatfield Forest is the only intact Royal Hunting Forest in Europe, dating back to the time of the invading Norman kings.

The forest, which is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has countless ancient pollarded oaks as well as hornbeam trees, ash, beech and field maple.

Hatfield Forest Conservation Warden Ian Pease and National Trust volunteer Roy Trollope assisted Cllr Cant at the tree-planting ceremony.