What is a veteran tree?
Three guiding principles:
- Trees of interest biologically, aesthetically or culturally because of their age, size and condition
- Trees in the ancient stage of their lives
- Trees that are old relative to others of the same species
Why are they important?
The special features of veteran trees make them unique as a wildlife habitat:
- Support many species that cannot live anywhere else.
- Many are rare and declining and cannot simply adapt or move to new trees.
- Includes some of our most charming species such as woodpeckers, owls and bats.
- Also home to a myriad of small, fascinating species like fungi, beetles, flies, algae and mosses.
How will I know a tree is a veteran?
The first thing is to look at how big the tree is - what is its girth?
Species |
Tree girth minimum |
| Birch, Hawthorn |
190 cm |
| Field Maple, Rowan, Grey & Goat Willow, Holly, Hornbeam, Cherry, Alder |
240 cm |
| Oak species, Ash, Scots Pine, Yew, Elm species |
310 cm |
| Lime species, Sycamore, Horse Chestnut, Poplar species, other pine species, Beech, Sweet Chestnut, White & Crack Willow |
470 cm |
However, absolute size of a tree can be a poor characteristic for determining a veteran tree. Often veteran tree features found on the roots, trunk and branches are often a good indicator of a tree's age.
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A Yew Tree in Lytchett Matravers churchyard estimated to be
1500 years old |
