In an effort to bring together records and map the old and large ('veteran') trees of the Isle of Man, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is asking for members of the public to provide details of their favourite local trees.
Information should include location (using a grid reference if possible), the species of tree if known, an approximate girth, which can officially be measured in ‘hugs’ (assuming a fingertip to fingertip measurement of 1.5m, or 5 feet) and any other distinctive features, such as deadwood, trunk cavities, fungus or plants growing out of the bark.
Other information such as digital photographs or local names or information associated with the trees would also add value to the project.
The information will be used to map the distribution of old trees on the Island and will aid in their conservation and protection.
Why do we need to record Veteran Trees?
Chairman of the Forestry, Amenity and Lands Division of the Department, Brenda Cannell MHK, said 'Veteran trees are a part of our history and our culture and need to remain a part of our future. If Veteran trees were to disappear from our countryside, towns and villages, it would be a huge loss to the landscape and character of the Island.
'Veteran trees are unique in the amount of life they sustain, with holes and hollows providing homes for bats or birds, loose bark for insects and dead wood for fungi. Thousands of species can be found living on a single tree, making them extremely important for maintaining biodiversity.
'We want as many trees as possible to survive for as long as possible by making sure they are well cared for. To do this we need to know where they are. There are potentially hundreds of Veteran trees all over the Isle of Man which have not yet been discovered but we are hoping to record all of them with your help'.
This project is in partnership with the Isle of Man Woodland Trust, a local charity working to protect the Islands trees and woodlands and the UK Woodland Trust which is dedicated to mapping Ancient and Veteran trees across the British Isles. All the trees entered onto our database will then feed into the Trust’s national survey and be available to view online.
How to identify a veteran tree
A Veteran is said to be 'a tree which, because of its great age, size or condition, is of exceptional value culturally, in the landscape, or for wildlife'.
Veterans do not necessarily need to be huge in size or particularly old, although they often are. The diameter of the trunk is often a better measure than the height or spread of a tree, as the canopy of old trees tends to contract with age. Veteran trees may occur just about anywhere, however gardens, riverbanks, church yards and hedgerows are all good places to start looking.
Please remember that permission must be sought to enter onto any land in private ownership.
For further information or to submit a record please contact Dr Peter McEvoy at the DAFF Wildlife Office at Knockaloe Farm on 843109, or peter.mcevoy@gov.im or Richard Crowhurst (Isle of Man Woodland Trust) on 815968 mrc@manx.net.
