What qualifies as a veteran tree.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Thanks for the advice.

 

Which bit don't you agree with.

 

the bit where a birch of 100 years is a veteran. it is not it is an ancient and a young ancient.

 

where one cannot veteranise a tree, we can and do. in fact it happens to urban trees alot:thumbdown:

 

where a yew of 600 years is a vet? come on, 1000 years maybe!

[oslac]

the bit where a birch of 100 years is a veteran. it is not it is an ancient and a young ancient.

 

where one cannot veteranise a tree, we can and do. in fact it happens to urban trees alot:thumbdown:

 

where a yew of 600 years is a vet? come on, 1000 years maybe!

 

mmm interesting response.

My understanding is that an ancient tree is a tree of antiquity and that means it is a tree which is very old. There is no such thing as an ancient birch unless, for some remarkable reason, it has hung on there for several hundred years.

 

Surely a young ancient is an oxymoron.

 

Your comment about veteranising a tree is in fact a method of giving a tree the characteristics of a veteran tree. The tree is still as old as it is. Just because you manage the tree to take on a range of characteristics does not mean that the tree is a veteran tree. What it means is that you have artificially given the tree the characteristics of a veteran tree.

 

If you want to call a 1000 year old yew a vet, thats fine with me but it would also be an ancient tree and as such, I would just call it an ancient tree.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The term veteran tree is one that is not capable of precise definition but it

encompasses trees defined by three guiding principles:

• trees of interest biologically, aesthetically or culturally because of their age;

• trees in the ancient stage of their life;

• trees that are old relative to others of the same species.

• The girth of a tree is not a reliable criterion because different species and

individuals of tree have very different life spans and grow at different rates.

• Veteran trees can be identified by the presence of specific characteristic as

listed in the main text.

[RobArb]

So say a yew's lifespan is 5000 years and at only 1000 years in its already an ancient?

 

Dont think so...

 

You can't classify all species of different trees into a same "age" category that defines them as a vet or ancient

 

Sent from Rob's GalaxySII

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

 

The term veteran tree is one that is not capable of precise definition but it

encompasses trees defined by three guiding principles:

 

1 trees of interest biologically, aesthetically or culturally because of their age;

2 trees in the ancient stage of their life;

3 trees that are old relative to others of the same species.

4 The girth of a tree is not a reliable criterion because different species and

individuals of tree have very different life spans and grow at different rates.

5 Veteran trees can be identified by the presence of specific characteristic as

listed in the main text.

 

one two and three are the same.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

So say a yew's lifespan is 5000 years and at only 1000 years in its already an ancient?

 

Dont think so...

 

You can't classify all species of different trees into a same "age" category that defines them as a vet or ancient

 

Sent from Rob's GalaxySII

 

some would argue 6000

 

well then lets look at veteran characteristics then?

 

snags deadwood, fungi rot holes and pockets cavities sap runs oh this list is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo longggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

[oslac]

The term veteran tree is one that is not capable of precise definition but it

encompasses trees defined by three guiding principles:

• trees of interest biologically, aesthetically or culturally because of their age;

• trees in the ancient stage of their life;

• trees that are old relative to others of the same species.

• The girth of a tree is not a reliable criterion because different species and

individuals of tree have very different life spans and grow at different rates.

• Veteran trees can be identified by the presence of specific characteristic as

listed in the main text.

 

Thanks for your help and thanks for lifting the 'quote' from 'Veteran Trees - a Guide to Good Management'

 

And where does my comments differ than the quote. which expreses age as the guiding principle when determining what is a veteran tree.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Thanks for your help and thanks for lifting the 'quote' from 'Veteran Trees - a Guide to Good Management'

 

And where does my comments differ than the quote. which expreses age as the guiding principle when determining what is a veteran tree.

 

 

that is YOUR failing not MINE, read the highlighted portion again, read it loud for us all to hear:thumbup1:

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

One vet, one ancient which is which? it is obvious when you understand.

 

 

[oslac]

that is YOUR failing not MINE, read the highlighted portion again, read it loud for us all to hear:thumbup1:

 

I think you are turning things on its head here.

Veteran trees or trees which are really old usually go through a range of physiological changes which often result in those characteristics being present. Just because a tree has those characteristics does not make the tree a veteran.

 

The guide is explaining that veteran trees usually have these characteristics and therefore they act as signposts to let those who are interested to consider the tree as a possible veteran.