Woodland Trust Veteran Tree Id: 202255
Grid ref – SJ 41360 88740 W3W ///shirt.aspect.slices
Veteran Tree 3 is a large old beech tree on the very edge of the carriageway.
Ancient Characteristics
Girth: 3m 87cm
Twisted and broken branches with deadwood in the crown.
The top of this tree has rotted and broken off so that the process of losing height has already begun.
The trunk is showing damaged and rotten wood. The start of hollowing.
The back of the tree has deep hollows and signs of insect infestation in the wood.
The bark has splits and crevices, all signs that this tree is past its best.
Although this beech has many ancient characteristics it is still a healthy tree with many years ahead of it becoming more hollow and decayed but becoming more important for the many creatures that it will support.
B Cameron
All photographs are the author’s own.