Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact, if any, that ancient and veteran trees may have on particular ecosystems.

Ancient and veteran trees are both irreplaceable habitats. Ancient trees can have significant biodiversity value as a result of significant wood decay and the habitat created from the ageing process, proving important for wildlife, including rare and threatened species. A veteran tree may not be very old, but it has decay features, such as branch death and hollowing. These features contribute to its biodiversity, cultural and heritage value.