Published: Thursday, 15th July, 2010 10:00am

Tree Huggers Make A Trunk Call

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TREE-MENDOUS LOVE: Jamie Cook and Alison Calcott struggled to get their arms around this massive 400 to 500 year old Sessile Oak within the grounds of Glaisnock House.

Forestry experts want people to "Give a tree a cuddle!".

Not to find "inner peace" but to record online ancient oak, ash, sycamores, beech and willow trees standing tall throughout Cumnock and Doon Valley.

Ancient Tree Hunt Assistant for East Ayrshire Woodlands, Jamie Cook has called on dog walkers, hill walkers, cyclists, fishermen, bird watchers and runners to step up and give a tree they pass by regularly a hug.

Former Auchinleck Academy and primary Pupil, Jamie, 32 is hoping to record over 1,000 trees online in the next eight months.

So far dozens of trees have been hugged and tagged from the surrounding areas of Catrine, Ochiltree, Sanquhar, Cumnock, Auchinleck and even up the Glenmuir Water.

Trees marked as white on the map have been verified, while trees shown as green have been proposed by the public. You can look up an interactive map of the ancient trees recorded or proposed in the UK by visiting www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk