I returned to Markstakes Common wearing my Woodland Trust Ancient Veteran Tree (AVT) assessor hat (and hi-vis jacket) in order to check that I had all the details required for the possible notable ash tree I had stumbleupon the other day. I had with me a rucksack weighed down with clipboard, measuring tape, print outs, leaflets, guided book, binoculars and for drawing, a sketch book and assorted pens and pencil.
The features of this ash (and another closeby) tick most of the ‘ancient’, certainly some of the veteran boxes. Tangled in the undergrowth in amongst a tangle of mostly mature woodland trees it takes quite a while to pick out anything of distinction, and only then it can be by chance, rather than meticulous ‘surveying’ of the ground. I’ve tucked and ducked into many corners of Markstakes Common, this is one I have repeatedly passed on the way to now familiar places – the other notable trees, those that have already been surveyed.
But with other trees like these in the vicinity can they be notable, veteran or ancient ?
You go into an old people’s home the chances are several people will be over 100 years old – this should not diminish the age of the individual just because there are others in the same boat.
This is the kind of detail I need to provide:
Context: ancient woodland
Grid Ref: TQ 3969018251
Species: Ash
Girth: @30cm 3.8m
Girth of each stem @1.5 i) 1.48m, ii) 1.56m, iii) 0.99m
Public access
Tree form: coppiced three-stem
The tree is alive and standing with multiple ‘ancient’ features relating to hollowing trunk and branches, decayed and broken branches.
Vertical Pano / same tree from a distance
It’s tricky to establish the degree of hollowing in the trunk – there are three stems, the central stem solid and more healthy looking in appearance, the other two decidedly challenged, twisted or broken with significant cracks in the bark, broken and twisted stem and branches, dead wood in the canopy and on the ground.
From ground level moss and lichen are clear.
There are ample slots for bats. A small, fury grey vole made an appearance and scooted about beneath the tree while I was making notes.
Comments: the challenge is to give a suitable girth to the coppiced base some 40/50cm up from ground level splits into three stems, one possibly decidedly younger than the others, though all mature.. The base has a sizable exposed root and the entire base of the trunk is covered in moss.
There’s a note to record all ash more than more than 3.25m. This one scores on that point.
Regarding the final categorisation as notable, or veteran, it is important to point out that there are within 100/200m other ash trees, an already recognised three-stem (TQ 3972018321) with a girth of 302cn @1.2m, as well as a further three-stem and two-stem trees where the individual stems are of a similar girth to this (1m, to 1.5m). Does their number make them collectively locally ‘notable’, or individually notable or even veteran?
Is it an ancient tree?
Ancient Tree:
Look for these key features:
- Crown that is reduced in size and height
- Large girth in comparison to other trees of the same species
- Hollow trunk which may have one or more openings to the outside
- Stag-headed appearance (look for dead, bare, antler-like branches in the crown)
- Fruit bodies of heart-rot fungi growing on the trunk
- Cavities on trunk and branches, running sap or pools of water forming in hollows
- Rougher or more creviced bark
- An ‘old’ look with lots of character
- Aerial roots growing down into the decaying trunk
Ancient Ash Tree > https://bit.ly/AshAVT
Ash are ancient from 225 years onwards, although many have ancient characteristics from around 175 years.
Ancient characteristics
- Girth is large
- Major trunk cavities or progressive hollowing
- Decay holes
- Physical damage to trunk
- Bark loss
- Large quantities of dead wood in the canopy
- Crevices in the bark, under branches or on the root plate, sheltered from direct rainfall
- Fungal fruiting bodies (from heart rotting species)
- A high number of interdependent wildlife species
- Epiphytic plants
Ancient ash trees may show signs of management such as pollarding.
Veteran Tree > https://bit.ly/AVTAncient
With some ancient features but ‘usually only in their second or mature stage of life’.
Notable Tree > https://bit.ly/AVTNotable
Notable trees are usually mature trees which may stand out in the local environment because they are large in comparison with other trees around them.
Ancient Ash
Another ash tree, possibly veteran ? \
Next to this ‘possible notable’ (or ‘veteran’) three-stem ash, there is a single stem, twisted, mature ash, surely in its final states of life – with significant ancient features. It is in an advanced stage of decay, with fungi in the well rotted, cavity filled trunk remains.
Despite these ancient characteristics, epicormic growth is healthy looking and substantial in its own right. It also has a companion ash that at some point has grown up against it.
It is clearly, surely in its final stage?
Hollowing in the tunk and fungi (Crepidotus) in the decaying wood
It is by far the oldest surviving ash tree in Markstakes Common. It is interesting biologically because of the fungi in its stem, evidence of woodpeckers and insects, the brown rot in its hollowing stem and its gnarled characters
Mind Bursts 