Letter: We Need More of our Ancient and Veteran Trees Listed

Published on: 8 May, 2022
Updated on: 8 May, 2022

Ancient Tree Inventory website

From: Donna Collinson

In response to: We Need to Keep ‘Leafy Surrey’ Leafy

We can all help protect our oldest trees by recording them for the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory. Ancient and Veteran trees support the greatest biodiversity, store the most carbon dioxide and produce the most oxygen. They also have high public amenity value.

In 2018 the NPPF [National Planning Policy Framework] was changed to protect these trees as living heritage, to bring them more in line with the protection of listed historic buildings. NPPF 175c protects veteran and ancient trees from being felled or dug up, unless in exceptional circumstances.

It’s easy to record the trees, and very rewarding when they are verified by one of the Ancient Tree Inventory experts. Recording can be done by individuals or groups: measure the girth, at 1.5m high if possible, with a ball of string, take some photos and upload, onto the ATI website.

Most trees already recorded in Guildford Borough are south of the town: many more are as yet unrecorded north of the town. They need to be recorded urgently before they are lost. The “Notable, Veteran and Ancient” trees can be searched for on the ATI site (please click here) too.