05/11/2026
If you’ve been walking through Thwaite Brow Woods, you might have spotted some rather unusual-looking tree work.
Believe it or not, this is entirely deliberate!
It’s part of a conservation technique known as veteranisation, which mimics the natural damage caused by storms and ageing.
And there’s a very good reason for it. Wildlife absolutely thrives in these conditions.
Splintered timber, exposed wood, cracks and cavities provide valuable habitats for all sorts of creatures. Insects and fungi colonise the decaying wood, birds feed on the insects, and over time the developing hollows can provide nesting and roosting opportunities for birds and bats.
These are features that can take decades, sometimes centuries, to develop naturally. By recreating some of them, we’re helping to provide those habitats much sooner.
It’s all part of our ongoing work to improve biodiversity at Thwaite Brow Woods.
Tree work started yesterday, with more scheduled for next week.
So if you spot a tree that looks like it’s had a particularly rough day, don’t worry. What looks like damage to us can be a wildlife paradise!
🌳 No, the tree surgeon hasn’t had a bad day!
If you’ve been walking through Thwaite Brow Woods, you might have spotted some rather unusual-looking tree work.
Believe it or not, this is entirely deliberate!
It’s part of a conservation technique known as veteranisation, which mimics the natural damage caused by storms and ageing.
And there’s a very good reason for it. Wildlife absolutely thrives in these conditions.
Splintered timber, exposed wood, cracks and cavities provide valuable habitats for all sorts of creatures. Insects and fungi colonise the decaying wood, birds feed on the insects, and over time the developing hollows can provide nesting and roosting opportunities for birds and bats.
These are features that can take decades, sometimes centuries, to develop naturally. By recreating some of them, we’re helping to provide those habitats much sooner.
It’s all part of our ongoing work to improve biodiversity at Thwaite Brow Woods.
Tree work started yesterday, with more scheduled for next week.
So if you spot a tree that looks like it’s had a particularly rough day, don’t worry. What looks like damage to us can be a wildlife paradise! 🌿
