大象传媒

Trees are nature鈥檚 giants. At this time of year, they're ablaze with colour as their leaves turn to red and gold.

They're also some of the oldest living things on the planet, living up to 1,000 years old, providing unique habitats for all sorts of wildlife.

So, if you have a favourite tree, send us a photo saying where it is and why it鈥檚 special to you:

Canadian Redwood in Calderstones Park

Give a tree a hug

How can you tell if a tree is ancient? The answer: give it a hug. If it takes three adults to hug an oak tree, then it鈥檚 officially ancient. Likewise, if you find a beech tree that needs two hugs, then that鈥檚 ancient too.

In Calderstones Park in Liverpool, there is a huge Oak tree said to be 1,000 years old, known locally as the Allerton Oak.

According to Richard Baker a Liverpool Park Ranger, this old English Oak has had an eventful past:

"This tree has always been prominent in the city. Before court buildings local lords and dignities are said to have met beneath this tree and to carry out justice.

The 1,000 year old Allerton Oak

"Many people think that the tree was struck by lightning, but it was a gunpowder ship explosion in 1864 which created a mini earthquake which the split in the tree.

"There are thousands of relatives to this tree around the world. The tree produces around 100,000 acorns every year and during wartime tiny oak trees were grown from the acorns and given to soldiers to plant where they travelled".

Other trees of interest in Calderstones Park include a Redwood tree, usually found in Canada and the record breaking Shagbark Hickory tree which has the widest girth in Britain.

The rangers offer regular tours of the trees in Liverpool parks across the city. Contact Liverpool City Council on 0151 233 3000 for details.

There are more ancient trees in the UK than anywhere else in Northern Europe. But there is currently no database saying where they are which is why the Woodland Trust and 大象传媒 Autumnwatch need your help to register them so they can be preserved.

For more information visit the Woodland Trust website.

The record breaking Shagbark Hickory

Do One Thing with Breathing Places and plant a tree

Every mature tree has a legacy to be proud of, supporting thousands of lives. If you plant a tree, you'll help many future generations of wildlife and give lots of enjoyment to lots of people.

It鈥檚 easy to do and if you don't have a garden, you can plant one in a container. It鈥檚 best to choose a native species such as silver birch, hawthorn, blackthorn or holly.

Pick up a pocket guide from 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside reception or log onto the Breathing Places website.