Its the intentional wounding of trees to create decaying wood habitat commonly replicating natural wounds and habitat features commonly found on trees.Its a slightly misleading term as we never undertake this work on veteran trees, we priotise this work on trees that are already earmarked for removal or to have work done to them.

Why do we do this?

Veteran trees sustain all sorts of damage through storms, pruning, animal activity and pest attacks. With time, these wounds develop onto wood decay habitats which provide a huge selection of habitats for fungi invertebrates, birds and mammals. Young trees tend be fairly scarce of these features, they simply haven't lived long enough to endure the wounds of veteran tree life. Some wildlife such as Violet Click Beetles are completely dependent on these niche features and when a veteran tree finally dies and decomposes back into the soil the beetles need a new host, problem being, they are only capable of flying a few hundred metres so if there isn't a new home to move into close by, they will die off.

Its important to create decaying wood habitat where there is an age gap in a veteran tree population or where there is lack of wood decay habitat such as in a young group of trees. 

How do we do it?

We use chainsaws, axes, winches, mallets, drills and ropes to mimic nature and speed up the process of decay related habitat. We can replicate rips,loose bark, woodpecker holes, insect sap sucking insects, horse, cattle damage, lightining strikes, cavities and aeriel deadwood...

To learn more about veteranization check out our case study below.