Just a selection of some of our old vehicles, most of which have gone now, but all did a stirling job in carting all manner of tree brash, logs and landscape materials over the years. We ran a couple of Ford cargo wagons, one with a hiab, LDV crew cab tippers and recently Ford transit crew cab tippers. We also needed 4×4 vehicles & always had a landrover somewhere in the fleet.

We even had a company motorbike, for those tricky lanes.. now replaced by a quad.

It was a bad day when we hit the post office van head on in the snow whilst doing a job for James Herriot’s partner near the White Horse!

With over 40 years trading and over 70 members of staff through the years.. there may be a few faces you remember on your tree job or landscape scheme. It’s the quality of staff and people that have worked for us that has made Rylands the company it is today. Plus of course strong management!

Good quality and detailed management, high professional ethics, treating people with courtesy and respect,not messing customers about & doing what we say we are going to do, when we say we are going to do it…that’s Rylands ethos. We also admit when something goes wrong and put things right straight away..

It’s the seven P’s of running a firm… Prior Planning and Preparation Prevent, P— Poor Performance.

Many smiling faces. It’s great to look back and remember working with these people. Many have gone onto other careers in the Industry, some came as students from Askham Bryan College during their training, others went abroad and some are still with us after 40 years!!

This was a nice surprise.. The Arboricultural Association Long Standing Membership Certificate.. 39 years and still going strong!

A nice courtyard design & build to start the 2024 year off….

Artificial turf putting green…. Nun Monkton

Rear terrace garden designed by the client & built by Rylands. Scarcroft Hill, York

Sauna & cold plunge pool plus new terrace constructed by Rylands. Nun Monkton.

Still happy at work!!!

Trees keep coming through….!!!!

With over 40 years of tree and landscaping experience, here are some testimonials from happy clients pleased with our work.

Tree pruning is a highly specialised skill within the industry. Learn why it’s so important to hire trained experts to care for your trees.

If you are interested in trees like we are………

The Capon Tree, a hollow oak near JedburghPhoto: Photo by Chris KnapmanHome > Ancient Trees > What are ancient & veteran trees

Ancient, veteran and other definitions

What do we mean by ancient?
Think of an ancient tree and words that might come to mind are gnarled, knobbly, huge, bent and hollow. These sorts of characteristics are just as important as the actual age of the tree, but the term ancient is applied specifically to trees that are ancient in years. Ancient trees are those which have reached a great age in comparison with others of the same species.

How old is an ancient tree?
The exact age at which you’d call a tree ancient depends on the species of tree and other factors including the type of site where it’s growing.  A birch tree could be considered as ancient at 150 years old, for example, but an oak tree would not be thought of as ancient until it’s at least 400 years old. Yew trees can live for thousands of years, so are not defined as ancient until they are 800 years old. It is often difficult to estimate how old an ancient tree is, but one method that is used, alongside considering the ancient characteristics, is to measure the girth of the trunk (see further information below).

What does an ancient tree look like?
Characteristics of an ancient tree depend on the species, and on factors such as the site and conditions under which they have grown.  However, they have three key features:

• A low, fat and squat shape – because the crown has retrenched (reduced in size) through age
• A wide trunk compared with others of the same species
• Hollowing of the trunk (not always visible)

What is a veteran tree?
Unlike an ancient tree, a veteran tree can be any age, but it is a tree which shows ancient characteristics such as those above. These may not just be due to age, but could result from natural damage, management, or the tree’s environment. Ancient trees are all veterans, but not all veterans are ancient.

What is a heritage tree?
A heritage tree is one that is part of our history and culture, and can be connected with specific historic events or people, such as the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest or the Tolpuddle Martyr’s Tree in Dorset. Other heritage trees may simply have particular appeal because of their appearance, landscape character or architectural setting, and have therefore become well-known landmarks in their local communities. There are also heritage trees such as the Thorpeness Apple, which are valued for their great botanical interest, for example as rare native trees or cultivars of historic interest.

What is a notable tree?
The term notable tree usually refers to a tree which is significant locally, because it is special or particularly large compared with the trees around it. Notable trees are usually mature, but not always; Wellingtonias for example, can appear to be huge even when quite young.

What are champion trees?
A champion tree is one which is the tallest, or has the widest girth, of its kind in a specific area.

Rylands Horticulture Ltd

W: www.rylandshorticulture.co.uk

Tel: 01904 799032

E: rylands@rylandshorticulture.co.uk

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