When up at Hampstead Heath recently, I came across these two fine oaks upon a small hill (dubbed ‘Two Tree Hill’) in an area known as Sandy Heath. According to the information sign, which stood as the only guard of the low fence surrounding the hill, these two oaks are approximately 300 years of age. This has meant they oversaw the quarrying of the sand that went on at the location many moons ago.
To safeguard these trees against reduced vigour associated with poor light availability, the surrounding canopy has been ‘halo pruned‘ – this reduces the competition for light, and allows these two oaks to photosynthesise without much hindrance from other trees.
Arboriculture 