Veteranisation Of Trees
Creating the Veteran Trees of Tomorrow
One of the greatest challenges facing modern arboriculture is recognising that some aspects of nature simply cannot be recreated overnight.
When an ancient veteran tree is lost, we can certainly plant another tree in its place. We can even plant ten. What we cannot replace are the centuries of ecological relationships that developed alongside it. Cavities, standing deadwood, loose bark, hollow limbs and countless other veteran features may have taken hundreds of years to form. Entire communities of birds, bats, fungi, insects and countless other organisms have gradually established themselves within those habitats over generations.
A newly planted tree, however valuable it may become one day, cannot immediately provide the same opportunities.
That realisation has prompted an important evolution in modern arboriculture.
Rather than waiting centuries for natural processes to create these habitats, many arborists, ecologists and land managers are now asking a different question.
Can we thoughtfully encourage the development of valuable habitat features much earlier in a tree's life?
That question lies at the heart of veteranisation.
Veteranisation, sometimes also described as microhabitat creation, is the deliberate encouragement or creation of habitat features within carefully selected trees. The objective is not to create a veteran tree, something that only time can truly achieve, but to encourage some of the ecological features that naturally develop as trees mature.
In many ways, it represents one of the most exciting developments within contemporary arboriculture.
It reflects a growing recognition that trees should not only be managed as individual specimens, but also as living ecosystems that support an extraordinary diversity of life.
Rethinking What Good Tree Work Looks Like
When we first encountered the concept of veteranisation, it felt genuinely revolutionary.
Like many arborists, we had been taught that good tree work was neat, precise and sympathetic. Torn bark was something to avoid. Stub cuts were considered poor practice. Exposed cambium suggested accidental damage. Every pruning cut was expected to be clean, accurately positioned and made with the long term health of the tree firmly in mind.
Then we began studying veteranisation.
Suddenly, many of those same features were being considered from an entirely different perspective.
Habitat poles might be retained instead of removing a tree completely. Standing deadwood could be preserved where it presented no unacceptable risk. Carefully planned coronet cuts, retained habitat stubs and deliberately created cavities could all, in appropriate circumstances, provide opportunities for wildlife that would otherwise take many decades, or even centuries, to develop naturally.
At first glance, the philosophy appears contradictory.
In reality, it reflects a deeper understanding of trees and the ecosystems they support.
Veteranisation is not about making healthy trees look old.
It is about thoughtfully creating opportunities for life that might otherwise take centuries to develop.
That distinction is critically important.
Poor tree work remains poor tree work.
Veteranisation is not an excuse for careless pruning, unnecessary damage or indiscriminate cutting. Every intervention should be deliberate, proportionate and supported by a clear ecological objective. Like every aspect of arboriculture, it requires judgement, technical understanding and careful consideration of the individual tree, the surrounding environment and the desired long term outcome.
Our understanding of trees has changed enormously over the last century and continues to evolve today. As research into tree biology, fungal ecology and habitat development has expanded, arboriculture has increasingly recognised that trees are not simply individual organisms but complex ecological systems. Veteranisation reflects that growing understanding. It is one example of a profession continuing to learn, question established practice and improve.
In many ways, veteranisation represents a shift in emphasis. It does not suggest that aesthetics, structural integrity or public safety are no longer important. Nor does it mean every suitable tree should be veteranised. Rather, it encourages us to ask one additional question alongside all the others.
How can this tree contribute more to the landscape around it?
Working With Nature, Not Against It
Every profession evolves.
Medicine looks very different today than it did a century ago. Engineering continues to develop as new materials and better understanding emerge. Arboriculture is no different. Although people have cared for trees for centuries, our modern understanding of tree biology, ecology and long term management is still developing. New research continues to challenge assumptions, refine established practices and encourage us to ask better questions.
We believe that is something to celebrate.
Veteranisation is one example of that evolution. It demonstrates a profession willing to re-examine long held beliefs in the light of better understanding. Rather than viewing trees simply as individual specimens to be maintained, modern arboriculture increasingly recognises them as living ecosystems, connected to countless other forms of life and contributing to the wider landscape in ways we are still discovering.
For us, that represents a profound shift in thinking.
Tree surgery has traditionally focused on the relationship between the arborist, the client and the tree itself. Those three elements remain critically important and always will. Veteranisation encourages us to widen that perspective still further by asking what our decisions mean for the insects, birds, bats, fungi and countless other species that depend upon trees throughout their lives.
It reminds us that every management decision echoes beyond the individual tree.
That idea sits comfortably alongside our own philosophy.
We have always believed that good arboriculture balances the needs of the client, the tree, the landscape and ecology. Veteranisation does not replace that philosophy. If anything, it reinforces it by recognising that ecological value deserves to be considered alongside structural integrity, aesthetics and practical management.
From Aesthetics to Ecology
If there is one challenge that veteranisation presents to both arborists and the public, it is that ecological value does not always look tidy.
For generations, many people have understandably associated good tree work with clean lines, carefully shaped crowns and neatly finished pruning cuts. Clients naturally want gardens that appear well cared for, whilst arborists rightly take pride in producing precise, sympathetic work.
Veteranisation asks us to recognise that nature often works differently.
A fractured branch can become habitat.
Standing deadwood can support hundreds of species.
A hollow cavity that appears untidy to us may provide a home for wildlife for decades to come.
This is not an argument against attractive landscapes.
Nor is it an argument that every garden should contain monoliths, habitat piles or deliberately fractured branches.
It is simply an invitation to broaden the conversation.
Can we begin thinking about beauty in ecological terms as well as visual ones?
Can a carefully retained habitat pole be viewed not as an unfinished job, but as a deliberate investment in biodiversity?
Can a pile of retained timber become something more than waste waiting to be removed?
These questions do not always produce straightforward answers.
Over the past few years we have routinely offered clients alternatives that prioritise ecological value. Where appropriate, we have suggested retaining monoliths rather than completely removing trees, or leaving timber on site to continue supporting insects and fungi. In truth, almost every client has politely declined.
That is entirely understandable.
People invest considerable time and money into creating gardens that are tidy, welcoming and enjoyable places to spend time. A standing habitat pole or a carefully positioned habitat pile does not always fit with that vision.
Rather than viewing this as resistance, we see it as an opportunity for education.
As an industry, we still have much to do in helping people understand the remarkable ecological value that these features can provide. We believe that, over time, attitudes will continue to evolve as our collective understanding of biodiversity grows.
Progress rarely happens overnight.
It happens one conversation at a time.
Leading the Change
Our company carries a simple phrase beneath its name.
Lead The Change.
For us, those words have never meant following trends or embracing new ideas simply because they are fashionable.
They mean remaining curious.
They mean listening to emerging research, learning from experienced practitioners, questioning our own assumptions and being willing to change when the evidence points towards a better way of caring for trees.
Veteranisation is one example of that mindset.
We do not believe every tree should be veteranised.
We do believe every arborist should understand the principles behind it.
As our knowledge of ecology continues to develop, we have an opportunity to shape landscapes that support far greater biodiversity than they do today. If enough thoughtful arborists begin incorporating appropriate habitat creation into their everyday decision making, the cumulative effect across thousands of sites, year after year, could be extraordinary.
Meaningful change in arboriculture will not happen because of one company.
It will happen because an entire profession continues to learn.
We hope to play our part in that journey.
Thinking in Centuries, Not Seasons
One of the most remarkable aspects of veteranisation is that it forces us to think on a timescale that is unfamiliar to most people.
Much of modern life is measured in days, weeks or years. Even many landscape projects are planned over relatively short periods. Trees, however, operate according to an entirely different calendar. A feature that provides modest ecological value today may become an invaluable habitat in fifty years' time. A carefully retained deadwood stub may eventually develop into a cavity used by generations of birds. A habitat pole established today could support fungi, insects and countless other organisms long after the people who created it have gone.
That is an extraordinary thought.
Veteranisation reminds us that good arboriculture is not simply about solving today's problems. It is also about creating tomorrow's opportunities.
In many ways, it asks us to become better ancestors.
Rather than asking only what a tree can do for us today, it encourages us to consider what that tree might one day provide for our children, grandchildren and the landscapes they inherit.
We find that a deeply encouraging way to think about tree care.
How Southfleet Approaches Veteranisation
Although veteranisation remains an emerging area of arboriculture, its principles increasingly influence the way we think about tree management.
Whenever we assess a site, we naturally begin by considering the safety of people, the health of the tree and the objectives of our client. Alongside those considerations, we also ask a further question.
Are there opportunities to increase ecological value?
In many situations, the honest answer will be no. The tree may be unsuitable, the location may present unacceptable levels of risk or the client's objectives may simply make habitat creation inappropriate.
Where opportunities do exist, however, we believe they deserve careful consideration.
Sometimes that may involve recommending the retention of standing deadwood rather than removing it unnecessarily. In other situations, it may simply mean leaving naturally developing habitat features undisturbed or discussing alternative approaches that preserve ecological value without compromising safety.
As research and practical experience continue to develop, we expect the range of appropriate techniques to evolve alongside them.
We see that as one of the most exciting aspects of modern arboriculture.
We are committed to continuing our own education, remaining open to new evidence and incorporating thoughtful, well supported ecological practices into our recommendations wherever they are appropriate.
Our role is not to champion veteranisation for every tree.
Our role is to understand when it represents the right solution.
How We Decide What A Tree Needs
Frequently Asked Questions About Veteranisation Of Trees
What is veteranisation?
Veteranisation is the deliberate creation or encouragement of habitat features within suitable trees to replicate some of the ecological characteristics normally associated with much older veteran trees.
Does veteranisation damage trees?
Yes, in the sense that it deliberately creates controlled wounds or retains features that would traditionally have been removed. However, when carried out appropriately and for clear ecological objectives, those interventions are intended to encourage valuable habitat development rather than simply damage the tree.
Is veteranisation suitable for every tree?
No. Veteranisation should only be considered where it is appropriate for the individual tree, the site, the level of public risk and the long term management objectives.
What kinds of habitat features can be created?
Depending on the circumstances, techniques may include retained standing deadwood, habitat poles, coronet cuts, retained habitat stubs or carefully created cavities designed to encourage wildlife over time.
Is veteranisation the same as poor pruning?
No. Poor pruning lacks purpose and often damages trees unnecessarily. Veteranisation is a deliberate, evidence informed ecological management technique carried out with specific long term habitat objectives.
Can veteranisation replace ancient or veteran trees?
No. Nothing can replace an existing veteran tree. Veteranisation simply encourages the earlier development of some habitat features whilst recognising that true veteran trees represent centuries of natural processes that cannot be recreated.
Why is veteranisation becoming more common?
As our understanding of ecology has developed, arborists have increasingly recognised the enormous value of deadwood and veteran features for biodiversity. Veteranisation is one way of helping create those habitats sooner where appropriate.
Building Better Landscapes for the Future
Every generation has the opportunity to leave the landscape a little richer than it found it.
Sometimes that means planting a tree whose shade we will never enjoy ourselves.
Sometimes it means protecting an ancient veteran that has already served the landscape for centuries.
Sometimes, increasingly, it means helping younger trees begin developing the ecological features that future generations may one day depend upon.
We believe all three are expressions of the same idea.
Thoughtful stewardship.
Veteranisation is not about making dramatic changes to trees.
It is about making thoughtful decisions that recognise the wider living systems around them.
As our understanding of arboriculture continues to evolve, we hope these ideas become an increasingly natural part of the conversation between arborists, landowners, local authorities and the public.
Because the landscapes we inherit tomorrow are shaped by the decisions we make today.
If you would like to discuss how ecological thinking can be incorporated into the long term management of your trees, we would be delighted to help you explore the options and determine what is appropriate for your site.
About the Author
Jackson Moran
Founder, Southfleet Tree Services and Arb & Environmental
Level 4 Arboriculture (Merrist Wood)
AA Technician Member
Over ten years of practical arboricultural experience across tree surgery, tree inspection, surveying and long term landscape management.
Jackson believes the best arboriculture balances the needs of trees, people and the wider landscape through evidence based, proportionate decision making. His work spans practical tree care through Southfleet Tree Services, professional consultancy through Arb & Environmental and, in the future, landscape implementation through Hawthorne Surry.
