What qualifies as a veteran tree.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Now this is what I'm talking about.

 

 

 

So with a lightning strike that can be clear.

 

With dead wood would 30% be a veteran

 

The quality and quantity of CWD (course woody debris) is a complex thing to quantify and have in a ticky box category.

 

I believe that two or more 6 inch diameter limbs would be considered enough

[oslac]

My understanding is that a tree which is older than its expected life is a veteran tree whilst an ancient tree is just that . . ancient. A birch tree over 100 years old would be classed as a veteran birch but for a tree to be classed as ancient it would need to be several hundred years old (probably more than 500 and more likely to be over 700 years old) in which case a birch tree could never reach ancient status.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

My understanding is that a tree which is older than its expected life is a veteran tree whilst an ancient tree is just that . . ancient. A birch tree over 100 years old would be classed as a veteran birch but for a tree to be classed as ancient it would need to be several hundred years old (probably more than 500 and more likely to be over 700 years old) in which case a birch tree could never reach ancient status.

 

No, and thanks for illustrating well the confusion between ancient and veteran!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

There is a rather nice description of the many life phases a tree passes through somewhere in my vaults, shall have a dig about for it, but im sure david will know the piece of which I speak, older piece pre nev and co

[Paul Barton]

I have always thought that veterans should display a number of different characteristics - not just age and dead wood. For example:

- cavities

- water pockets

- flaking bark

- woodpecker holes

- large dead wood

- fungal fruits

- scars/lightening strikes

-and more...

 

I seem to remember reading that a vet should have a minimum of 'x' number of characteristics. I guess it's a bit of a tick box way of classing a veteran but it gives the weight to characteristics rather than just age or deadwood.

[Paul Barton]

Some good info here: IN13 - Veteran Trees: A guide to good management (page 1)

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I have always thought that veterans should display a number of different characteristics - not just age and dead wood. For example:

- cavities

- water pockets

- flaking bark

- woodpecker holes

- large dead wood

- fungal fruits

- scars/lightening strikes

-and more...

 

I seem to remember reading that a vet should have a minimum of 'x' number of characteristics. I guess it's a bit of a tick box way of classing a veteran but it gives the weight to characteristics rather than just age or deadwood.

 

yes but the presence of two or more veteran features is all that is needed to qualify. so two or more features and we have an EARLY veteran, then all the shades till we reach the ancients which ALL have more vet features than you can shake a stick at:thumbup1:

[oslac]

Normally the term veteran is specific to the age of a tree i.e. older than the normal life span of that tree. So for example, a verteran birch would be over 100 years old whilst a veteran oak might be over 400 years old and a verteran yew may be over 600 years old. Trees of this age will usually have some or all of the characteristics previously mentioned, eg cavities, decay, fungi, dead wood etc. These cavities do not make the tree a veteran rather it is that the veteran tree being so old has these characteristics.

 

I do not think you can make a veteran tree by veteranising it, in other words artificially giving the tree the characteristics of a veteran tree. Thats like saying you can make me old by sticking a big nose on my face, pulling out a few teeth and telling me to wet my pants.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Normally the term veteran is specific to the age of a tree i.e. older than the normal life span of that tree. So for example, a verteran birch would be over 100 years old whilst a veteran oak might be over 400 years old and a verteran yew may be over 600 years old. Trees of this age will usually have some or all of the characteristics previously mentioned, eg cavities, decay, fungi, dead wood etc. These cavities do not make the tree a veteran rather it is that the veteran tree being so old has these characteristics.

 

I do not think you can make a veteran tree by veteranising it, in other words artificially giving the tree the characteristics of a veteran tree. Thats like saying you can make me old by sticking a big nose on my face, pulling out a few teeth and telling me to wet my pants.

 

you need to read a bit dude!

[oslac]

you need to read a bit dude!

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

Which bit don't you agree with.