Two veteran trees in Epping Forest, one leaning against the other, as they slowly succumb to old age.
This is a photo I took this year, of one of my big interests: trees. Veteran trees are trees that, either through old age or a "hard life", have a huge interest for wildlife and for conservationists. The gnarls, hollows, decay and even sheer size that may be seen on such a tree mean that it can harbour many different kinds of animal, plant, and scientist.
Such trees can be used to deduce past conditions or management practices in an area; for example, these two trees show signs of pollarding, a traditional practice leading to a distinctive shape and potentially extending the life of a tree beyond its natural span.
Aesthetic value can be high in veteran trees, with their added architectural and textural complexity. They can also contain interesting little ecosystems for those who look closely, whether it be seedlings developing within a hollow or a swathe of enterprising mosses and ferns colonising the broad branches.
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