Issues affecting veteran trees

The main threats are:

• Felling
  • often veteran trees are assumed to be dangerous or simply dead.
• Changes in land use
  • such as infrastructure development and some agricultural practices, which can lead to the compaction or damage of the root system.
• Competition from surrounding trees
  • A sudden release from competing trees can shock trees and lead to substantial damage.
  • Gradual thinning around a veteran tree will provide a safe way to help competition.
• Under-management
  • in the past, all ancient trees would have been managed, providing our ancestors with firewood for their homes, fodder and shelter for livestock and timber for buildings and ships.
  • Left unmanaged, branches may become too heavy for the trunk, putting them at risk in high winds.
  • Although, some management may not involve physical tree work and the trees might just need to be checked on a regular basis.
    

Sweet Chestnut at
Canford School