New Protection for Veteran Trees and Ancient Woodland
Following the implementation of Planning Policy Guidance 9 (PPS9), ancient woodlands and veteran trees have are now a material consideration for Local Planning Authorities in their determination of planning applications.
Ancient and veteran trees provide habitat niches vital in maintaining a number of nationally and internationally important fauna and flora, and both ancient woods and veteran trees can be important features in a landscape. The effects of development might include complete loss of a veteran tree or damage to its Root Protection Area (as specified in BS 58372), or in the case of ancient woodland, reduction of the wooded area or disturbance or loss of the understorey. Indirect effects may occur even if trees are not on the development site itself; significant alteration of land use adjacent to an ancient woodland can increase exposure to pollutants from the surrounding area, alter local hydrology in such a way that the trees capacity to survive might be reduced.
AMA routinely undertakes habitat surveys as part of initial site assessments, and we recommend a desk study to check whether ancient woodland is likely to occur in the vicinity of the development. A formal arboricultural tree survey may not reveal the histiric importance of a veteran tree, but this should be picked up by a Phase 1 habitat survey. We are able to recommend how to incorporate trees and woodland features into scheme designs and can providing mitigation measures where required pre-planning, thereby minimising delays at the post-planning submnission stage.
Additionally, AMA now has the capabilities to provide ground work services for trees including arboricultural tree surveys and fitting erecting protective fencing prior to construction to protect root zones.
Some definitions:
Ancient woodland – Land that has been continuously wooded since at least 1600 and often much longer.Veteran trees – The term veteran tree is one that is not capable of precise definition but it encompasses trees defined by three guiding principles:· trees of interest biologically, aesthetically or culturally because of their age;· trees in the ancient stage of their life;· trees that are old relative to others of the same species