Careful management allows this unique veteran oak to embark on a new lease of life.

Dartmoor Tree Surgeons have recently had the privilege of working on a veteran Oak in Sidmouth, a complicated job involving consultants, cranes and much checking of weather forecasts.

The oak has stood for approximately 300-400 years and is one of the oldest, if not the very oldest, tree within Sidmouth. Following a full arboricultural assessment by Aspect Tree Consultancy it was found that the tree has a high level of decay at its base, as well as being a victim to Honey Fungus, and that the trunk of the tree had become increasingly hollow. This meant that, unfortunately, the tree had become a liability in its current form and that it would not be able to support the weight of its own crown in the future.

As a veteran tree, this oak holds immense ecological and cultural value. As English Nature’s Veteran Tree Initiative puts it, a veteran tree “…is more than a single old organism. It is home to a wealth of interdependent plants, animals and micro-organisms that interact with and can contribute to the longevity of the tree”. Recognising this, and also noting that the tree was otherwise in excellent health, Dartmoor Tree Surgeons recommended removing the crown only, and leaving the living trunk of the tree in situ. This removed the major strain of the existing weighty crown, hugely reducing the risk level posed by the tree. In time a new lighter crown should regenerate from the stem, and the tree will most likely continue to thrive and will hopefully outlive us all!

The remaining trunk of the tree will also provide a unique and rare habitat for a huge range of life, from microscopic fungi and bacteria to insects, birds and mammals, and will continue to promote a rich local biodiversity. Now that the works have been completed a replacement tree will also be planted in due course, with either a Pedunculate or Sessile Oak being selected. Once this new tree has matured, the oaks will form a pleasant and interesting pair of companions, providing a valuable natural habitat as well as shade and pleasure to the local residents.

Our team relished this interesting and exciting project – as you can see from these pictures, it wasn’t the average day at work! Crane work always presents its own unique logistical challenges, and it’s always very satisfying to see the crane team, the climber and the ground team working together to achieve a great end result.

If you have any queries regarding this project, have some veteran trees on your own land about which you would like some advice, or if you have any other tree care needs with which we can help please don’t hesitate to get in touch!