Protection of UK’s ancient trees is vital if endangered species are to survive
Woodland Trust’s latest guide showcases wealth of wildlife dependent on aging tree habitats
A guide to highlight the host of wildlife supported by ancient and some veteran trees that is
largely unique to them, has been launched by the Woodland Trust in partnership with the
Ancient Tree Forum.
Such specialised habitat in each and every one of the UK’s thousands of ancient and veteran
trees is a major argument for their protection and conservation, says Jill Butler, conservation
policy adviser for ancient trees at the Woodland Trust.
Jill Butler – Photo by Ted Green
She said: “For historic reasons, the UK still has thousands of ancient and veteran trees, unlike
many countries in Europe, and we therefore have an international responsibility to look after
them and the biodiversity associated with them – an important message in this International
Year of Biodiversity.
“As a good rule of thumb, the older the tree the more valuable it becomes, and even when the
tree has actually died, the deadwood can go on providing a valuable habitat for decades.
Professor Oliver Rackham’s put it brilliantly when he said, ‘a 500 year old oak is a whole
ecosystem for creatures for which 10,000 oaks of 200 years old are no use at all’.”
Although it is generally known that trees and shrubs provide a wide variety of habitat features
and niches for wildlife – in the canopy foliage, buds, blossom and the wood and bark of the
branches, trunk and roots - what is much less well known is the sheer wealth of wildlife they
support.
Across Europe ancient and aging trees are rare and therefore the specialist species associated
with them are rare also. In the UK at least 71 different beetles associated with wood decay are
in the Red Data Book and a further 88 species are nationally scarce.
Ampedus Rufipennis – Photo by Roger Key
Jill Butler explains: “Surprising as it may sound, it is the habitat created by wood as fungi
decay which helps to make old trees so important for wildlife diversity. This is because
hundreds of specialist species drawn from the fascinating worlds of fungi, invertebrates and
lichens can only live in trees when they are in this condition.
Lobaria Pulmonaria – Photo by Ray Woods
Beech with Laetiporus – Photo by Jill Butler
“Decay is not a static condition and as the habitat changes, especially as trunks and branches
hollow and the bark ages, new habitats are created and exploited by increasingly specialised
wildlife. Once cavities have been created, they are occupied by creatures as diverse as bats
and great spotted woodpeckers. “
The tree’s setting can also have a strong influence on the composition of the species present
with concentrations of trees in large open-grown areas such as parkland supporting a wider
associated biodiversity. Conversely, factors such as damage from land management
techniques will affect a tree’s ability to develop specialist habitats.
“Old and ancient trees are very vulnerable”, said Jill Butler. “They can be cut down, cut up
and removed as firewood very quickly and easily and with them their internationally important
habitat. Just because they are old and in some cases very large and grand as well, these trees
are not necessarily protected.
“So it is vital that we make sure their habitat is recognised and valued and that they are
actively replaced by the successive establishment of new trees which can become the
ancients of the future. We can only do this if we allow trees to grow for centuries, and the
best places to do so are often in parkland, wood pasture or open urban situations.”
In partnership with the Ancient Tree Forum and the Tree Register of the British Isles, the
Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Hunt website hosts a living database of ancient, veteran and
notable trees in the UK. Adding trees to the map is the first step to a more sustainable future
for the biodiversity associated with ancient trees – anyone can record a tree at
www.AncientTreeHunt.org.uk
The complete Ancient Tree Guide No 6 – The Special Wildlife of Trees is available in hard copy
and can be ordered from the Woodland Trust. Alternatively, any of the seven ancient tree
guides can be downloaded at www.ancient-tree-forum.org.uk