Ancient Tree Inventory | Hacker News Reader

Ancient Tree Inventory

ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk

77 pointszeristor11 comments

Living close to Epping Forest it is strange to see the veteran and ancient trees for one area appear, but the data for the rest of the forest not yet uploaded.

The Conservators of the Forest have tagged all the trees. Fun fact it looks to be that they started with number one at the location used to shoot the Black Knight bridge scene in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

If it's quiet you may be able to hear the coconuts.

It’s a shame to see such important data, much submitted by the public to this charity, somewhat locked away. No API or downloadable dataset but to their credit you can apply for access: “The Ancient Tree Inventory dataset is available upon request. If you would like to access the data please get in touch.” I can imagine all sorts of great visualisation and insight within the data.

Basic security measure to protect the trees from being stolen for wood thieves, or to excessive tourism leading to the dead of the tree. Both cases had happened before. Looks full of common sense.

There's a map though

Interesting. Crete has the stupendously ancient olive tree of vouves [0].

It’s as public as trees get. Otoh it’s on the yard of a building complex. You can walk to it, hug it, go hide inside it’s hollow trunk.

I don’t know how much tourism it receives but it seems to be doing fine.

But it’s watched all the time. And if someone wants to cut down illegally some olivet rees there are much less guarded ones to pick from.

Ancient trees are awesome.

[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_tree_of_Vouves

There is also the case of people voluntary killing tree in england too.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/30/poisoned...

https://abcnews.go.com/International/famous-sycamore-gap-tre...

Did not happened only in UK. You can see the same patterns in Spain in the same years, for example.

One would expect this to be thought of at the planning approval stage.

People buy property purely as an investment, it would seem that to some people it is a simple choice.

Perhaps they could replant with Leylandii?

There are two possible cases here.

1) Chop an ancient tree in a public park.

2) Chop an ancient tree in your property.

In the first case is often a case of wood thievery, a crime for profit. Can be also revenge (as in the sycamore gap) or just mental insanity.

In the second case can be a legal or illegal move. In some countries a centenary tree can't be chopped unless you ask for a special permit to the government. It the tree is a danger for historical or valuable structures, severe pruning or chopping can be allowed. If the tree has special historical, aesthetic or monumental value, the permit can be denied, even if the tree is in your property.

Your mileage may vary depending on the country.

That said, only an idiot would chop a centenary tree in their property if is not causing any serious problem to foundations or people. The presence of this tree will increase greatly the value of the property. Homes with trees have a much higher monetary value. Homes with ancient trees play in a special league of luxury.

It may even provide some special bonuses, like a decent fruit harvest each year, fertile soil, as touristic trap (see Beijin Ditan park Ginkgos, for example), or simply saving solid money on the energy bill of the house.

I've donated information to a few nature databases. I care a lot about which organizations are behind them. They each have their own legitimate reasons for usually light restrictions, which I fully support.

It is not locked away if you can ask for access.

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