Defining a veteran tree.

[Ty Korrigan]

Question, when describing a tree as veteran, is this in relation to it's species lifespan?

Take a 75 year old birch and a 75 year old oak.

Would the birch fall into the veteran catagory whilst the oak just 'mature'?

   Ty

[Steve Bullman]

Yes, its relevant to its lifespan

[Gary Prentice]

Veterans have features or characteristics. An ancient tree is one that is old compared against the normal range of that species.

 

So you can have young veteran trees, if they have cracks, fissures, decay pockets etc, that provide niche habitats. An ancient tree may have veteran features, but a veteran tree is not necessarily old.

 

 

 

 

[OakStag]

Veterans have features or characteristics. An ancient tree is one that is old compared against the normal range of that species.
 
So you can have young veteran trees, if they have cracks, fissures, decay pockets etc, that provide niche habitats. An ancient tree may have veteran features, but a veteran tree is not necessarily old.
 
 
 
 

Second that, I believe the veteren tree initiative have a checklist and if the tree has a certain number of characteristics on the list then theoretically can be classified as a veteren

[Gary Prentice]

10 minutes ago, OakStag said:

4 hours ago, Gary Prentice said:

Veterans have features or characteristics. An ancient tree is one that is old compared against the normal range of that species.
 
So you can have young veteran trees, if they have cracks, fissures, decay pockets etc, that provide niche habitats. An ancient tree may have veteran features, but a veteran tree is not necessarily old.
 
 
 
 

Read more  

Second that, I believe the veteren tree initiative have a checklist and if the tree has a certain number of characteristics on the list then theoretically can be classified as a veteren

They do, I had a quick search on my PC but couldn’t find it.

[daltontrees]

Here you are. The table at the end is especially useful in understanding the overlaps between ancient and veteran trees.

DEFINING_AGE_AND_SURVEYING_VETERAN_AND_ANCIENT TREESa.pdf

Edited May 26, 2018 by daltontrees

[Ruskins Trees]

There are many different definitions of a Veteran Tree

 

BS5837 "tree that, by recognised criteria, showing features of biological, cultural or aesthetic value that are characteristic of, but not  exclusive to individuals surviving beyond  the typical age range  for the species concerned", with a note " these characteristics  might typically include a large girth, signs of crown retrenchment and hollowing of stem"

 

National Planning Policy Framework 2012 (annex 2)  "A tree which because of its great age, size or condition is of exceptional value for wildlife, in the landscape or culturally"

 

Natural England and Forestry Commission "They have cultural, historical, landscape and nature conservation value because of their age, size or condition"