News & events

A brand new interpretation board for a veteran walnut tree designed by young carers has been unveiled in Lydiard Park near Swindon. The tree has been at the centre of a project that helps young carers through outdoor and nature activities in the city.

The oak is the quintessential tree of the British Isles and our latest data report gives a good indication of the spread of our ancient and veteran, as well as other notable oaks across the country.

When ATH volunteer Judy Dowling planned to go tree recording among the famous Cadzow oaks in South Lanarkshire she didn't know what she was letting herself in for.

If you're interested in ancient trees, finding and recording them, join the ATH at one of its regular events. For booking and additional information please contact Clair McFarlan, clairmcfarlan@gmail.com.

How action to protect an ancient churchyard yew in Pennant Melangell could be a useful test case in the campaign to get the Welsh government to provide for the protection of ancient and special trees

The monthly ATH newsletter provides the latest news for verifiers, recorders and partner organisations. Read what the Ancient Tree Hunt has been up to over the last few weeks.

This data map shows hotspot areas of ancient and veteran tree density across the UK, using Ancient Tree Hunt data. This data was analysed in August 2011 using the Joint Nature Conservation Committee protocol for assessing veteran tree sites. At this time there were 100,000 trees in the database.

Ancient and other veteran trees: further guidance on management, David Lonsdale (Editor).

This new book is essential reading for all tree owners, advisers and practitioners. The 212-page handbook from the Ancient Tree Forum brings together the collective wisdom on the management of ancient and veteran trees for all involved in looking after ancient trees. The authors recognise that, alongside the appreciation of old trees, there are responsibilities for their continuity and protection.

The National Trust probably owns the greatest number of ancient and veteran trees in the UK. Since the ATH and National Trust began working together, data on more than 11,000 trees have been uploaded to the Ancient Tree Hunt database, with a further 8,000 waiting to be added in the near future. Thanks to cooperation with the National Trust, the ATH is able to show the concentrations of ancient and veteran trees at NT properties.

New book edited by Professor Ian Rotherham

with chapters by Ted Green on ancient trees, and on re-wilding trees for ancients of the future by Jill Butler and Keith Alexander.

Volunteers in Wokingham started surveying veteran trees six years ago and now the group has gained more than 200 members and has many thousands of tree records under its belt

The county of Essex is home to some crucial historic forest landscapes around Epping and Hainault. Use the map to find the gaps on the Ancient Tree Hunt database that you could fill...

Tim Kellett is the Ancient Tree Hunt's lead verifier in the South West. Here he describes how he got involved in tree recording and some of his favourite finds:

Recent research from Sweden published in the Journal of Applied Ecology suggests that regeneration of trees in ancient tree hotspots can stem decline of important lichens and other epiphytes.

ATH verifier from Shropshire Rob McBride met his local MP, Owen Paterson, who just happens to be the Secretary of State for the Environment. He showed him maps of ancient oaks near his constituency home, as well proposing that the MP could go down in history as the minister who gave ancient trees the protection they need. Rob's account of what they discussed is a great example of ancient tree campaigning...

An Ancient Tree Hunt data distribution map showing locations of ancient and veteran Yew in the UK at 8 January 2013.

Training and talks on ancient trees and recording from the Woodland Trust Scotland. Sponsored by the players of the People's Postcode Lottery.

Ancient Tree Hunt's Jill Butler joins recorders and ancient tree experts in the Forest of Neroche for a day's tree hunting in Piddle Wood.

A map of ancient & veteran tree hotspots in the landscape of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Beauty - in Kent and Sussex. Produced from the Ancient Tree Hunt database.

This Ancient Tree Hunt database map shows the distribution of Ash trees in the UK by ancient/veteran/notable and verified/unverified status. The data will be particularly important in helping recorders and other observers maintain regular checks on the Ash population over coming years as we monitor Ash Dieback. It also provides important information on where the project needs to add more data.

Populations of large old trees are rapidly declining in many parts of the world, with serious implications for ecosystem integrity and biodiversity. New research published in Science magazine

More trees than ever added to the Ancient Tree Hunt maps in 2012. The freely accessible database now has an online photo library of more than 70,000 images of ancient and special trees. Volunteers and partner organisations continue to be the backbone of the project, recording, verifying and monitoring ancient trees.

More than 200 objections have been recorded by local planners to an application to remove seven miles of hedgerow on a farm in Chirbury, near Shrewsbury in Shropshire.

In celebration of Urban Trees..

We need your help to find our oldest and finest Cherry Trees..

The Ancient Tree Hunt Team are delighted to welcome Edward Parker as their new Project Manager

media info - large size images, fab facts, press release

What's happening, where, why and when - find out about Ancient Tree events here.

All the latest news from the Ancient Tree Hunt.