Lanchard Oak and Beech Given Veteran Tree Status

During our recent volunteer day in Lanchard Woods we assessed several old and impressive trees on the site to see if they qualified for veteran tree status which is awarded by the Woodland Trust. Awarding veteran tree status is an important step towards protecting these impressive trees and can be used in support of other legislation such as a tree protection order.

The first tree assessed was a large Beech close to the West entrance to Lanchard woods. While it may look like several trees it is actually one tree that has split and grown like this. After measuring the Beech using a very long piece of rope and a tape measure it was determined that this tree was old enough to qualify as a veteran tree.

The next tree we assessed was an old gnarled oak tree down by the stream that runs through the bottom of Lanchard woods. This tree is covered in patches of moss, ivy and has many ferns growing along its branches as well as areas of dead wood in its crown. This is a fantastic tree and really shows the importance of veteran and ancient trees because of the habitats and biodiversity they provide just among their branches. After measuring this tree it was determined that it is probably somewhere between 300 and 400 years old!

There were plenty of other notable trees in Lanchard Woods that given a few more decades will most likely become veteran trees themselves. This site really has the potential to become a great patch of biodiverse native woodland and is a great place for quiet stroll if you are in the area.

More information about veteran and ancient trees and their importance can be found on the Woodland Trust's website.