Dartmoor Ancient Tree Survey
What is an ancient or veteran tree?
English Nature defines a veteran tree as ‘a tree which, because of its great age, size or condition is of exceptional value culturally, in the landscape or for wildlife’. Some trees are clearly old and would instantly recognisable as veteran or ancient. Others may not grow to a great size or reach a great age but they may be veterans for their species.
Why does the Authority want to identify veteran trees?
Veteran trees are very special and are an important part of our heritage and Britain is unique in Europe for having a large number of old surviving trees. Many of these ancient trees have cultural associations with people places or events. Veteran trees are also very important for many forms of wildlife, the holes and hollows found on old trees are nesting sites for birds, or roosting sites for many species of bats. Some of our rarest lichens grow on old trees particularly ash. Many insects depend on old wood and it only on these ancient trees that such a habitat is found. Fungi have complex and often symbiotic relationship with trees and many, and sometimes rare, fungi are found on our oldest trees.
How many veteran trees are there?
We have little information about the numbers of trees within the National Park, what sort of condition they are in and whether they are under threat. For this reason we intend to carry out a survey to find out how many veterans there are, where they are located and what condition they are in.
What are the threats to veteran trees?
The threats to veteran tree are many and varied. Development pressure, the expansion of our urban settlements and pressure to build can threaten veteran trees. Although the Authority has robust policies to resist development in such situations and protect suitable trees with Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) some trees can be threatened by development. Agricultural intensification and deep ploughing close to trees can threaten older specimens and trees can suffer from inappropriate tree surgery or unsympathetic management.
Will all the veteran trees be protected?
The purpose of the survey is to build up a data base of veteran trees, it is not the Authority’s intention to protect all veteran trees with a TPO. Most trees are being looked after and are often cherished by their owners and we do not want to ‘protect’ trees where there is no need to do so. A Tree Preservation Order would only be used as a last resort if there was a demonstrable threat to the tree.
The survey
The Authority wants to identify all the veteran trees growing in the National Park. To do this we intend to carry out the survey in three phases. The initial survey will identify and record the location of veteran trees in a Parish, the second phase will be a more detailed survey of the condition of the tree and its wildlife and the third phase will be a detailed analysis of selected trees which will have been identified as having particular wildlife interest. It is hoped that Parish Tree Wardens or Parish Councils will carry out the initial survey, with the Authority carrying the second phase and the final phase undertaken by specialists, but we would welcome information from anyone who know the location of a veteran.
Where are veteran trees found?
Veteran trees are found in many places including ;
- old wood pasture,
- church yards,
- old field boundaries, trees were often used to mark boundaries of properties to define land ownership.
- along old rights of way, trees often marked cross roads, sometimes these were used as gallows trees, where criminals were tried and hanged,
- in ancient woodlands.
How can the Authority help with the survey?
The Authority can help by providing maps of the parish, making the Tithe map microfiche available for viewing at Parke, identifying ancient woodlands in each parish and provide any help or guidance that’s needed.
What will we do with the information?
The Authority will build up a data base of veteran trees. Trees that are visible from a public highway or publicly accessible land will be identified on a map along with other veterans with the owner’s permission.
Download the Dartmoor Veteran Tree Survey form
(22.5kb) available here in Word format.
