We all know about the benefits of trees – they create wildlife habitats, lock up carbon, clean the air and provide renewable fuels. But while the Yorkshire Dales National Park is full of historic features, from hill forts to medieval earthworks, few people are aware of the amazing ancient or remarkable trees within it and the stories they have to tell.
An ancient tree is defined as one that has biological, aesthetic or cultural interest because of its great age. It will be very old compared to others of the same species.
A veteran tree is usually in the mature stage of its life and has important wildlife and habitat features such as hollows, fungi, wounds and deadwood within the canopy.
A notable tree is of local importance or perhaps personal significance to an individual. It can be a rare species, exceptional specimen - or potential next generation veteran tree.
There is a tree within the National Park that is more than 800 years old - the Laund Oak at Bolton Abbey. That means it was standing, happily swaying in the breeze, whilst the Battle of Agincourt was in full swing and was mature at the time the Great Plague 1665. It has witnessed more than most Time Lords!
Ancient and veteran trees usually have a small canopy and wide, hollow trunk. This doesn’t necessarily mean they are dying - many live on for centuries. The decaying wood supports diverse species that would otherwise be homeless. Many fungi, lichens, beetles and bats depend on this rare habitat.
If a tree has that ‘Wow!’ factor then it probably is special - maybe because it is rare or magnificent in stature or perhaps because it has local historical or cultural significance.
A mature wych elm is one example of a notable tree. Some stood tall before the arrival of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s and are still standing tall today, apparently showing resistance to the disease. We’d like to know how they survived while others about them fell.
