More than 5,500 ancient and veteran trees mapped across Sussex’s Lost Woods

The Lost Woods team and its volunteers have recorded thousands of Sussex's oldest and most important trees as the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory celebrates 20 years of mapping the UK's living heritage.

More than 5,500 ancient, veteran and notable trees have now been recorded across the Lost Woods landscape in Sussex, helping to build a detailed picture of some of the area’s most important natural and cultural heritage.

Ancient and veteran trees are simply more than just old trees. Their cavities, deadwood and decaying wood provide important habitats for fungi, insects, birds, bats and other wildlife, while their age and history can connect communities with the landscapes of the past. But many ancient trees remain unrecorded, so knowing where they are is an important first step towards understanding and protecting them.  

The latest figures show that 5,570 trees have been recorded within the Lost Woods project area, including 348 ancient trees, 2,743 veteran trees and 2,467 notable trees.
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The Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory is a national record of ancient, veteran and notable trees, built over the past 20 years by volunteers across the UK. The Lost Woods team is working with volunteers to find and record every ancient and veteran tree in the project area in Sussex by 2027, with new records added to the inventory as part of this work.

Bob Epsom, outreach adviser for the Lost Woods, said:

“Every ancient tree has a story but many of these remarkable trees are still unknown and unrecorded. Reaching more than 5,500 records in the Lost Woods is an important milestone, helping us understand the incredible living heritage right on our doorstep.”

He added:

“Mapping is only the first step. We need to make sure that trees are recognised, cared for and protected so that they can continue to support wildlife and communities for generations to come.”

The milestone comes at a time when the resilience of trees is being tested by increasingly extreme weather. This summer has brought prolonged heat and drought across much of the UK, putting additional pressure on ancient and veteran trees due to their age. The recent death of the UK’s famous Major Oak, which was the first ever tree recorded on the Ancient Tree Inventory, has brought the vulnerability of these types of trees into sharp focus.

There are likely more ancient and veteran trees waiting to be discovered across the Lost Woods landscape. Anyone who thinks they have spotted one, including in places like a garden or on land they own, can help by checking the Ancient Tree Inventory and submitting a record if the tree has not already been recorded.

Find out more and tell us about a tree