Veteranisation

This is a last-ditch conservation technique where trees are prematurely aged to create new habitat for rare species that depend on decaying ancient trees. Mature trees are carefully selected, then inoculated with fungi that cause heart rot, speeding up the process by which the trees decay and are hollowed out. As part of the Back from the Brink project, old beech trees in Windsor Great Park have been veteranised to help an endangered cranefly found here and at just one other site worldwide.

Veteranised trees are old before their time.