ROOTED IN HISTORY

Discover more about our wonderful ancient trees

THE official definition of an ancient woodland is any area that has been continuously wooded since 1600 or before. Made up of trees of different ages, it now accounts for just two per cent of Britain’s landmass. Ancient trees have survived in areas that have not been farmed or developed, such as mountainsides, private estates and in graveyards, where yews were planted as guardians of hallowed ground. The Fortingall yew, growing in a graveyard in Fortingall village in Perthshire, is estimated to be 5,000 years old and is one of Britain’s most ancient trees. Legend says that Pontius Pilate, who oversaw the crucifixion of Christ, was born beneath the Fortingall yew.

Some veteran trees are safeguarded by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOS) but many stand unprotected, often from neglect or a lack of awareness of their biological and historical significance. The Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum are both campaigning for changes to the law to ensure the safety of these veterans. Threats to ancient trees include felling; changes in land use for development or agriculture; competition from surrounding trees; and pests and diseases, such as ash dieback and sudden oak death, which also affects larches. A total of 25 million elms were wiped out when Dutch elm disease spread across the country in the 1980s. Today, cuttings from the few survivors are being used to propagate a new generation of these beautiful British natives. But devastating diseases are on the rise.

The solutions? Planting different species and trees of different ages helps to reduce the impact of disease and promote an individual specimen’s longevity. Also, most of our woodlands contain just 30 species, and if one, such as ash, dies out, the effects can be disastrous. If you spot a diseased tree, notify The Woodland Trust’s Observatree project (observatree.org.uk), which aims to eliminate and control outbreaks. The Trust can also advise on tree preservation and planting in your area. →

WHERE TO SEE ANCIENT TREES

The Woodland Trust’s interactive map shows the whereabouts of more than 100,000 veteran trees and ancient woodland. ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk

The Tree Register itemises notable and ancient trees in Britain and Ireland. treeregister.org

Elmdon Park features an ancient sweet chestnut, dating from 1518. solihull.gov.uk/parks/ elmdonnaturepark

Epping Forest is an ancient woodland, including a medieval forest. visiteppingforest.org

Find ancient yews at graveyards in Discoed in Powys, Llangernyw in Conwy and Fortingall in Perthshire.

Visit the Holker Great Lime at Holker Hall in Cumbria. holker.co.uk

Kingley Vale in West Sussex is home to 1,000-year-old yews. naturalengland.org.uk

Kingston Lacy in Dorset has ancient oak pollards and a 17th-century cedar walk. nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy

See some of Europe’s oldest trees in Savernake Forest in Wiltshire. savernakeestate.co.uk

Sherwood Forest in Nottingham is home to the 800-year-old Major Oak. sherwoodforest.org.uk

Deciduous trees stripped bare in winter are icons of the British landscape, their leafless branches helping to reduce the plant’s risk from wind and snow damage

Carpinus betulus (hornbeam) is one of Britain’s 15 principal natives and is found in many ancient woodlands. Hatfield Forest in Essex is home to some of the oldest specimens Ancient tree trunks provide a habitat for threatened species that are slow to react to change, find it difficult to adapt or are unable to move to other locations to survive

The tangled stems of wisteria would topple a young or small tree, but a mature pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) provides a sturdy scaffolding for this hefty climber

Oak has long been prized for strength and was traditionally used for shipbuilding. These properties continue to make it a popular choice for furniture making and timberframed buildings