Next weekend, strap on your walking footwear and enjoy the rare opportunity to meet Duncombe Park's 'oldest residents' – spectacular ancient trees, more than half a millennia old.

The free guided walk, which takes place on Saturday May 14th, will take in parts of the Duncombe Estate, in the North York Moors National Park, which do not usually have public access and is organised as part of series of 'hidden gem' walks by the Lime & Ice Project.

Brian Walker, a former wildlife officer at the Forestry Commission, will lead the walk and talk about what is being done to protect the future of the stunning trees.

The national park is well-known for its ancient and veteran tree population, many of which can be found at Duncombe.

Jennifer Smith, Lime & Ice project officer, said: "These wise old veterans are all that remain of the 'wild wood’ that would have covered much of the country in the 16th century.

"As well as being fascinating in their own right, they also provide a home for wood-feeding insects such as beetles and an array of different birds."

The park authority has also published a free Out and About guide, available from tourist information centres.