{"id":3971,"date":"2026-04-22T09:37:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/buddingnews\/?p=3971"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:16:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:16:48","slug":"viva-los-trasmochos-long-live-the-pollards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/buddingnews\/2026\/04\/22\/viva-los-trasmochos-long-live-the-pollards\/","title":{"rendered":"Viva los Trasmochos \u2013 Long Live the Pollards!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We are delighted to share that an article by one of our arborists, Dylan Smith<\/strong>, has recently been published in ARB Magazine (Issue 212, Spring 2026)<\/strong>. The piece, titled Viva los Trasmochos \u2013 Long Live the Pollards! Lessons from the Basque Country<\/em><\/strong>, explores the ecological, cultural and practical importance of pollarded trees, drawing on Dylan\u2019s hands\u2011on experience in northern Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning from ancient traditions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In November 2025, Dylan travelled to the Basque region as part of an international collaboration focused on the restoration of ancient lapsed pollards<\/strong>. Pollarding is a traditional tree\u2011management practice involving the repeated cutting of branches to produce sustainable supplies of timber, firewood or fodder, while also creating complex tree structures that support biodiversity. Although once widespread across Europe, the practice has been abandoned in many regions, placing veteran trees at risk through over\u2011extended limbs, decay and instability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Basque Country retains a remarkable living legacy of this tradition. Working alongside Spanish arborists, conservationists and researchers, Dylan and the wider team assessed historic beech and oak pollards, trialled different restoration techniques and shared expertise built up over decades of research and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combining science, skill and collaboration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A central theme of Dylan\u2019s article is the balance between ancient practice and modern science<\/strong>. Restoration work needs to be carefully tailored to each tree\u2019s condition, taking account of age, vitality, decay and response to past interventions. Techniques such as pole thinning<\/em>, staged reduction and selective retention of branches are helping to stabilise trees while preserving their ecological value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project also highlighted the importance of collaboration. Knowledge was exchanged not only between UK and Spanish professionals, but also with local communities, government bodies and craftspeople. From discussions on fungal ecology and tree biomechanics to demonstrations of traditional axe\u2011work by renowned Basque wood\u2011choppers, the trip illustrated how cultural heritage and ecological conservation can reinforce one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Preparing the next generation of experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dylan\u2019s involvement in this work is supported by his participation in the Ancient Tree Forum\u2019s Experts of the Future programme<\/strong>. This initiative mentors and supports a small cohort of early\u2011career specialists, helping to build the knowledge and skills needed to care for ancient and veteran trees well into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Dylan reflects in his article, these experiences are invaluable \u2013 not only for advancing scientific understanding, but for fostering the collaboration, humility and long\u2011term thinking required to protect irreplaceable living monuments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why this matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ancient and veteran trees are reservoirs of biodiversity and tangible links to our cultural landscapes. Once lost, they cannot be replaced within a human lifetime. Work such as the Basque pollard restoration project shows what can be achieved when tradition, research and cooperation come together with a shared purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are proud to see Dylan\u2019s work featured in ARB Magazine<\/strong> and to support initiatives that contribute to the protection of ancient trees both in the UK and internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find out more and help to protect ancient and veteran trees, please visit the Ancient Tree Forum:<\/strong>
https:\/\/www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Arb Team are keen to contribute to research around trees and their ecology and they may be able to assist with research projects. Please contact them at grounds@exeter.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are delighted to share that an article by one of our arborists, Dylan Smith, has recently been published in ARB Magazine (Issue 212, Spring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3077,"featured_media":3985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nViva los Trasmochos \u2013 Long Live the Pollards! - Budding news<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/buddingnews\/2026\/04\/22\/viva-los-trasmochos-long-live-the-pollards\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Viva los Trasmochos \u2013 Long Live the Pollards! - Budding news\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We are delighted to share that an article by one of our arborists, Dylan Smith, has recently been published in ARB Magazine (Issue 212, Spring […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/buddingnews\/2026\/04\/22\/viva-los-trasmochos-long-live-the-pollards\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Budding news\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-22T09:37:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-22T10:16:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/buddingnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/303\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-22-104148.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"663\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"421\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"ay315\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"ay315\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/buddingnews\/2026\/04\/22\/viva-los-trasmochos-long-live-the-pollards\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/buddingnews\/2026\/04\/22\/viva-los-trasmochos-long-live-the-pollards\/\",\"name\":\"Viva los Trasmochos \u2013 Long Live the Pollards! 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