What counts as a veteran or ancient tree
Government standing advice from Natural England and the Forestry Commission defines an ancient tree as an exceptionally valuable tree, judged by its great age, size, condition, biodiversity and cultural value. A veteran tree may not be very old but has significant decay features such as dead branches and hollowing. All ancient trees are veteran, but not all veterans are ancient. The age at which a tree qualifies varies by species: the Woodland Trust gives the example of a birch at around 150 years and a yew at around 800. Ancient and veteran trees are described by the guidance as irreplaceable habitats.
Why decay and deadwood matter
Hollow trunks, dead limbs and rot holes are the habitat. The Woodland Trust points out that many invertebrates depend on decaying wood in old trees, and that some lichens on them grow only a millimetre or two a year. Taking all the deadwood out of a veteran tree, as you would on a young one, destroys what makes it valuable. In Worcestershire, Worcestershire Biological Records Centre describes oak as the commonest ancient tree in the south of the county, with ash next, and surveys at places such as Croome Landscape Park have found ancient trees with important invertebrate communities and uncommon fungi.
What careful management looks like
- Doing nothing is sometimes right. Natural England's handbook Veteran Trees: A guide to good management covers when to take no action at all as well as when to act.
- Phased reduction. Retrenchment pruning is a gradual form of crown reduction that imitates the way a declining tree naturally sheds branches and shrinks its crown. Done over several years, it can lighten an overextended crown and reduce the strain on a tree.
- Making the hazard safe, not removing the habitat. If a dead limb threatens a path, a tree surgeon may, after assessing it, shorten it or reduce the risk by moving the target (diverting the path, fencing off the area) instead of felling.
- Protecting the ground. Compaction, parking or new paving over the roots can do more harm than pruning. Keep the area around the tree free of heavy traffic and soil changes.
- Sparing the surroundings. Natural England and the Forestry Commission advise a buffer around ancient and veteran trees of at least 15 times the trunk diameter (or 5 metres beyond the canopy edge, if that is greater) when considering development.
The Ancient Tree Forum is a UK charity working on the care of these trees and publishes videos on good practice in veteran tree management. Ask a firm whether they have worked on veteran trees, what they'd do differently from a normal pruning job, and whether they follow that guidance.
Legal protection
Age alone does not protect a tree. The Woodland Trust notes that many of the oldest and most important trees have no real legal protection. In practice, protection comes from a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area status, from planning policy that treats them as irreplaceable, or from their position in a listed park or nature reserve. If you suspect a tree is protected, check with the council before any work. Bird nests in use and bat roosts are protected too, and old trees are exactly where both are likely, so a competent ecologist or tree surgeon should check before work.
Worcestershire
According to the Worcestershire Biological Records Centre, ancient trees in the county are found especially in old parkland and wood pasture. The Worcestershire Biological Records Centre notes a main concentration of ancient trees in south Worcestershire, and mentions ancient oaks and sweet chestnuts at Pipers Hill Common Reserve near Hanbury. Many veterans stand in fields and hedgerows as well as parks, so you may own one without realising. If you do, treat any quote for felling with caution and consider a second opinion from someone with veteran tree experience.
Not sure what you have? A tree survey by a qualified arborist can assess whether a tree has veteran features and what management it needs. You can also look up or record notable trees on the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory.