Sussex has some of the most valuable ancient woodland and ancient tree cover in England but unfortunately there are limited new generations of ancient trees coming online. This, combined with the loss of ancient trees, means that ancient tree habitats are not as abundant as they once were.

We have also lost many natural Ecosystem Engineer species (such as Beavers and Wild Boar), which would historically have created habitat niches and variety in the structure of trees, both young and old. These natural processes such as bark tearing, rubbing, coppicing, browsing, boring and branch breaking, along with weather induced processes such as rotting and storm damage, are all essential to sustain a healthy and varied set of woodland habitat niches. Added to this, the fall in numbers of species such as Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, means that certain types of woodpecker holes and species specific habitat niches are no longer part of the fabric of a structurally diverse woodland environment.

Trees can be adapted to encourage natural decay, to create refuges for birds, animals and insects, and to emulate ageing and the natural actions of wildlife. We can use tools and human action to mimic some of these lost natural processes, and to re-create some of the missing habitat niches in woodlands. This helps to restore important wildlife habitat, whilst we work towards establishing more natural habitat networks, including woodlands which are hopefully able to develop to maturity. This is called ‘Veteranisation’.

Tree veteranisation is the deliberate damaging or wounding of ‘younger’ trees to accelerate the development of microhabitats typical of large, old trees (veterans). It includes a range of techniques such as :-

• Creating woodpecker-like holes, or holes similar to other wood boring insects
• Creating hollows and cavities embedded in the tree trunk or branches which provide nesting and roosting spaces for birds / bats / bees etc.
• Intentionally tearing, cutting or breaking branches to imitate storm damage
• Damaging the bark / trunk to simulate animal damage, such as horse and bison browsing
• Simulating beaver coppicing
• Inoculation with fungi to stimulate natural decay processes
• Damaging the bark and cambium of the trunk
• The Eiffel Tower technique
• Adding natural nesting habitat such as natural log bee hives
• Ring barking whole trees or branches
• Controlled fire damage to target trees (or parts of them)
• Winching over of trees

Our Wilder Landscapes Team can help to advise and support you with tree veteranisation.

You can find more information in the Ancients of the Future leaflet here.

Tree Veteranisation films

Jamie Parsons, Head of Nature Reserves, demonstrates some veteranisation techniques and describes how this management benefits wildlife.