Veteran tree

Veteran tree is a term used in the United Kingdom to mean a tree which, because of its great age, size or condition is of exceptional value culturally, in the landscape or for nature conservation.

Definition of a Veteran Tree

Veteran trees vary in age depending upon their species and location, but may be several hundred years old. Smaller and shorter-lived tree species (such as orchard trees) may begin to develop some veteran features when only a few decades old. Usually, veteran tree organisations use size as a measure, with a >3metre girth at 1.5m above ground being a usual test for a tree to be a veteran. Of course, some trees can be hard to measure, so it can be more complicated.

Veteran trees often have features of particularly high nature conservation value, such as dead limbs, hollows, rot-holes, seepages, woodpecker holes, splits, and epiphytic plants and lichens. Few of these features are found on younger trees, and they provide habitats for very many species of animals and fungi, some of which are rare.

Many of the oldest trees are pollards, as pollarding removes the weight and windage of the upper trunk and so reduces the chances of major damage, and it also maintains the tree in a vigorous state.

Veteran trees occur in many situations, occasionally in dense woodland, but more commonly as hedgerow trees, on village greens, and in ancient parks and other wood pasture. They are more frequent in Great Britain than in many other parts of Europe.

The Ancient Tree Hunt

In recent years, these trees have started to be documented so that a national database can be created. This programme has been dubbed the "Ancient Tree Hunt" by some media. Volunteer groups such as the "Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association", the "Dorset Greenwood Tree Project" and the "Ashford Veteran Tree Initiative" are crucial to the success of this scheme.

Although some initiatives have strict rules on how to measure the girth and use GPS devices to accurately document the location of such trees, other schemes rely on members of the public to report big trees. The public have been encouraged to hug big trees in their area to get a measure for their size and report their findings to English Nature or another Veteran Tree organization. 19th Century maps are also being used to find old trees in places such as Cambridgeshire. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/7286235.stm BBC NEWS | England | Cambridgeshire | Maps boosting ancient tree search ] ]

ee also

* Oldest tree
* Tree preservation order

References

External links

* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/VetTreesFuture.pdf] "The Future for Veteran Trees". English Nature, 2000. ISBN 1 85716 509 8
* [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100200800k00e001001] English Heritage page about veteran trees.
* [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/handbooks/upland.asp?id=6] "Veteran Trees Management Handbook", English Nature, 2000. ISBN 1 85716 474 1
* [http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum] Ancient Tree Forum