25th August 2026
A Personal Tribute to Neville Fay
By Ted Green – Founder President of the ATF
The tree care world lost a key figure, and I lost a great friend and ancient tree ally, when Neville Fay died on 17 August 2026 after a short illness.
Neville Fay (Credit: ATF)
Keith Alexander and I met Nev in March 1994. By then, there was a growing group of people who were meeting frequently at sites with ancient trees. Nev had been commissioned to work on trees at Ashton Court and we went there to meet him and discuss his management work. Soon after I met him, we talked about how I was watching the ancient oaks in Windsor Great Park grow downwards. This inspired Nev to develop his ideas about Conservation Arboriculture. He coined the phrase that ‘there should be no further avoidable loss of ancient trees’ – one that should always remain an aim for the ATF and the Arboricultural Association.
Nev immediately joined our group and from this time on played a very significant part in the formation of the Ancient Tree Forum (ATF). Building on his experience of working with Tree Aid, Nev led the way in developing the ATF into a charity and Nev was its excellent first chair. By 1996 there was such awareness of the importance of ancient trees that English Nature (later Natural England) developed the Veteran Trees Initiative (1996-2000) which set up various projects and ran many events around England to help spread the word. Nev and I contributed to many of these events and I had a lot of time to get to know him. Through the Initiative, Nev developed the Specialist Survey Methodology and contributed to the guidance materials for the management of ancient trees. He went on to work with others in the production of the National Tree Safety Group and set up the Sustainable Soils Alliance.
We also travelled together to many important European places such as the forest at Fontainebleau, to Versailles to see the impacts of the 1999 ‘hurricane’ and the pollards in the French and Spanish, Basque Pyrenees. As our experience grew, we went on to share platforms together not only in the UK but in many other European countries and Nev became an international leading light for old trees.
Nev excelled at bringing people together, drawing out individual contributions and giving people recognition for their efforts. He would make people feel appreciated and inspire them to get more involved. Through collaboration with other like-minded specialists, he ran a number of very well attended and highly regarded Innovations in Arboriculture Seminars on a wide range of topics. His background in tree work ensured that he always kept a focus on raising standards in the management of ancient trees.
Nev read widely, thought deeply and wrote a great many articles and several books about the care of ancient trees. He would love to weave in metaphysical associations which helped to challenge one’s depth of understanding! He leaves a great tree care legacy.
When I became less mobile and was less able to join so many events, Nev made a point of ringing me up by phone to have a chat – typical of his thoughtfulness and shows the measure of the man. Goodbye to a very special person. Friendships made under a tree last the lifetime of the friends.
Neville Fay (Credit: Rob McBride)
18th June 2026
Lessons from Sherwood’s Major Oak Must Help Protect Britain’s Ancient Trees
The Ancient Tree Forum (ATF) is extremely saddened to hear of the demise of one of Britain’s most iconic trees. Famous throughout the world, the Major Oak has inspired awe and wonder in countless visitors who have made pilgrimages to Sherwood Forest. We offer our condolences to the staff at Sherwood Forest and to local people, for whom this moment may not be unexpected, but is nonetheless deeply painful.
Commenting on the loss, Richard Powell OBE, Chair of the Ancient Tree Forum, said:
“The Major Oak is one of Britain’s most celebrated trees and its loss will be felt far beyond Sherwood Forest. While we mourn the passing of this remarkable tree, we must also learn from its story. Ancient trees are irreplaceable living monuments and complex ecosystems. The lessons learned at Sherwood can help us better protect and nurture the nation’s precious ancient trees for future generations.”
It is clear from historic photographs that the tree has been a centre of attraction for well over a century. The critical importance of the unseen underground roots and the myriad soil organisms that support all trees has only been fully appreciated and understood in relatively recent times. We now know that the impact of large numbers of people walking and standing on the ground around a tree can be severely detrimental to its health.
We also recognise that past management of ancient trees, whilst carried out with the best interests of the tree in mind, may not today be considered appropriate. Our understanding of how best to care for ancient trees has developed significantly over time, particularly in relation to the importance of natural processes and long-term tree health. It is possible that some historic interventions, undertaken with good intent, may have contributed to the tree’s decline.
The RSPB have been deeply concerned about the tree’s condition and have actively sought and followed expert advice in an effort to ameliorate past damage and arrest its decline. They deserve considerable credit for these efforts during what must have been a challenging and emotional time.
Sherwood Forest is more than a single tree. Its other ancient oaks are spectacular trees with distinct forms and characters. These trees are receiving a great deal of care and attention from the RSPB, and considerable effort is being made to ensure that they continue to thrive despite unavoidable pressures such as a changing climate.
While the loss of such an iconic tree is both sad and upsetting, we should also remember that Sherwood Forest, and Britain as a whole, still contains many charismatic ancient trees that we can value, nurture and visit.
We at the Ancient Tree Forum continue to learn from historic management practices in order to increase our understanding and improve the care of our most precious trees and to build a growing network of specialists with expertise in ancient tree management, including through initiatives such as the VETcert certification scheme, for which the ATF provides training in the UK. We hope that the lessons learned from Sherwood and other important sites can be shared widely to help safeguard the future of our oldest and most valuable trees.
Press Enquiries: Please contact admin@ancienttreeforum.org.uk
5th February 2026
Recording now available! ATF webinar: Dead & Decaying Trees – Are they Valued by the Public?
Thank you to those who came along to the ATF Webinar on 29th January: “Dead & Decaying Trees – Are they Valued by the Public?”
You can now watch the recording below.
Huge thanks to Dr Beth Brockett (Senior Social Scientist at Forest Research) for a fascinating presentation on her research into public perceptions of dead and decaying trees.
Thank you also to our expert panel members (Tom Hill, Nigel Pilling and Luke Barley) for contributing to a stimulating Q&A discussion with the audience.
Webinar Recording:
NOTE: This video doesn’t appear to work for everyone. If the video doesn’t play directly for you on this website, please visit the Youtube video at: https://youtu.be/WGUGwk38Ri8
If you’d like to be informed of our future webinars, please subscribe to the ATF e-newsletter (scroll to the bottom of our website homepage). You can also donate to help ATF’s work to protect ancient and veteran trees: click here to donate. Thank you!
16th April 2025
Ancient Tree Forum Deplores the Loss of the Ancient Oak at Whitewebbs Wood
The Ancient Tree Forum is deeply saddened by the recent destruction of an historic oak at Whitewebbs Wood. This ancient tree, a living monument and vital part of our shared ecological and cultural heritage, was an irreplaceable habitat for wildlife and a symbol of resilience over centuries.
“Ancient trees are globally significant, rare, and irreplaceable,” said Richard Powell, Chair of the Ancient Tree Forum. “The loss of this oak highlights the urgent need for stronger protections to preserve these important natural monuments, which are essential to biodiversity and cultural history.”
The Ancient Tree Forum is calling for more robust legislation and stricter regulations to prevent the damage or loss of ancient trees. Once lost, these unique habitats cannot be replaced. We urge local authorities, landowners, and the public to take immediate action to protect these invaluable ecological treasures. Additionally, the Ancient Tree Forum emphasises that dead, dying, and decaying trees are not automatically unsafe.
Professional veteran tree consultants and arborists regularly advocate for sensitive management techniques and mitigation measures, including managing the surrounding environments and foot traffic, to maintain the integrity and biodiversity of ancient trees and their associated wildlife for as long as possible. It’s important that organisations get this specialist advice to help protect and conserve ancient trees.
Contact:
Bob Warnock
Director, Ancient Tree Forum 07877 735503
robert.warnock@ancienttreeforum.org.uk Ancient Tree Forum
Notes for the Editor:
The Ancient Tree Forum (ATF) has pioneered the conservation of ancient trees for over 25 years and is the only UK organisation focused solely on ancient and other veteran trees. Our vision is for ancient and other veteran trees, their wildlife, and their heritage and cultural values to be safeguarded now and in the future. Our published material and training has sought to raise the profile and importance of ancient and veteran trees, including how to identify and manage them, which is constantly evolving. We have been influential in achieving recognition of their high biodiversity and cultural value in policy and guidance.
15 April 2025
10th December 2024
Recording now available! ATF webinar- “SENTINELS – Protecting Fiji’s Heritage Trees” 5th December 2024
Thank you to those who came along to the ‘SENTINELS’ webinar and a special thank you to ATF Trustee Tom Hill for the fantastic insight into Fiji’s heritage trees.
As part of a truly immersive experience, Tom produced a documentary about Fiji’s oldest trees and forests and the indigenous ways of knowing and relating to trees that are slowly fading from view there and around the world right now.
The film was made in a special collaboration between The Meaning of Trees Podcast (which Tom Hosts), National Trust of Fiji Islands, Woah Studios Fiji and International National Trusts Organisation and since its release has been shown at 2 international film festivals in Fiji.
Tom joined us for a special screening and Q and A session to learn more about the documentary and his personal reflections on a life-changing time spent with tribal cultures learning how traditional and spiritual belief systems influence the way that trees and endemic forest habitats are protected on the other side of the world.
If you missed the event of wish to watch it again, you can view the documentary and the question and answer session below.
Full Documentary
Question & Answer Session
About Tom
Tom Hill is an ATF Trustee, VETcert Trainer and National Trust Trees & Woodland Adviser who spent 3 months working and living in Fiji in the South Pacific.
Podcast series
The first few episodes of the Tom’s latest podcast season are all extended interviews with people connected to the Sentinels film – they go into greater depth about trees and Fiji, including the notion of totem trees. Please follow The Meaning of Tree’s podcast channels https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast
5th December 2024
Acute Oak Decline and Chronic Oak Decline
Defra Workshop 28 November 2024
James Chambers represented the ATF at this Defra Workshop and has provided a helpful summary from the workshop discussions.
Defra AOD Workshop, London 28/11/2024. Image Credit James Chambers
Over the past decade Defra has commissioned several research projects on oak decline, centring around the themes of; causes and symptoms of oak decline, understanding environmental factors that exacerbate oak decline symptoms and management and resilience. The aim of this evidence review is to assess our current understanding of the disease, determine what evidence gaps there are, and how we can move forward to combat these oak diseases.
Acute Oak Decline is a problem that poses a threat to our oak tree population, as you are likely already aware. But what causes it, how do we distinguish it from other tree health issues, how widespread is it and what can we do about it?
Naturally, the priority is to retain our oak trees so a ‘road map’ for future policy is being developed.
Approximately 60 professionals including Forest Research scientists, environmentalists, ecologists, scientists, academics, foresters, arboriculturists and key members of the Defra team met in London to review and discuss AOD. Defra provided an overview of what we actually do know about it, with a helpful ‘confidence rating’ for each of the factors.
We were divided into 6 groups, each containing a broad range of experience and skill sets so we could review the available information and obvious gaps in knowledge to consider options for obtaining more information about this problem.
We then sought to prioritise the long list of knowledge gaps to focus on those which might be of most use/practicality to resolve and help increase understanding of AOD. Not an easy task as you can imagine, but everyone in the room had valuable input and we did produce a list of possible options.
Defra AOD Workshop, London 28/11/2024. Image Credit James Chambers
The team at Defra know have the equally difficult job of reviewing that information to produce a policy for AOD. Look out for updates in the new year!
In the meantime, here are a handful of useful takeaways that you may or may not already be aware of;
- AOD is a ‘decline disease’ meaning it is the result of a series of factors combining to put pressure on trees over time.
- Unsurprisingly, it is highly likely that the increase of AOD is due to the consequences of anthropogenic climate change, including increasing temperatures.
- There is no evidence that A. bigatattus is a vector for AOD, however A. bigatattus is associated with AOD.
- Weakened trees are more likely to be affected and less able to defend against beetle colonisation.
- AOD is not ‘infectious’, it’s highly likely that local conditions and individual tree health/genetics are contributory factors related to affected trees.
- AOD is associated with endophytic bacteria (Brenneria goodwinii, Gibbsiella quercinians, Rahnella Victoriana) in oak trees, which can become pathogenic, causing AOD.
- AOD can be identified through,
- dark, vertically aligned fissures/bark plate cracks which can expel dark fluid/exudates. – Other factors can also cause these exudates!
- Larval galleries of Agrilus biguttatus and or ‘D-shaped’ beetle emergence holes, and necrosis of inner bark layer. – Trees can be affected by AOD without the beetle being present!
- A. bigatattus larvae produce chemicals which trigger bacterial gene expression shifting the bacteria’s behaviour from endophytic to pathogenic. The development and effects of AOD will be worse in individual trees where A. bigatattus is also present.
Please use Tree Alert to report instance of suspected AOD (and other important plant pathogens) as this is a valuable source of information for further research. It only takes a couple of minutes, if not us, then who, if not now, when?
https://treealert.forestresearch.gov.uk/reports/acute-oak-decline
James Chambers
Principal Arboricultural Consultant, TMA
ATF Essex Local Group Organiser
27th June 2024
ATF Job Vacancy- Finance Officer
Finance Officer
Salary £30,925 pro rata, part time – 12 hours/week, home working from anywhere in the UK.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Ancient Tree Forum, a charity whose vision is for the UK’s ancient and other veteran trees, their wildlife, and their heritage and cultural values to be safeguarded now and in the future.
We are recruiting a Finance Officer to undertake all operational finance activities and tasks in our small, friendly and flexible environmental charity.
The ideal candidate will: perform all finance tasks for a small busy organisation, support the Operations Manager with preparation for reporting to funders, governance meetings and the annual reporting cycle and liaise with a wide range of people by email and phone in a professional manner.
The successful applicant will be able to work well in a small team, demonstrate personal resilience, a flexible approach to work, have a commitment to ongoing personal finance development and a commitment to diversity.
The post is offered at 12 hours per week, working from home and involves very occasional travel, on a permanent contract subject to completing the probation period. The basic leave entitlement is 25 days plus public / bank holidays (pro rata).
Please note: we can only employ people currently resident in the UK.
To apply
Please see below- job description, application form and equalities monitoring form.
Please complete the application form and equalities monitoring form below – in your application form please ensure you explain how you meet the person specification or we will not be able to assess your application. Send to admin@ancienttreeforum.org.uk, by the closing date.
The closing date for applications is midnight on Monday 15th July 2024.
Interviews will be on Wednesday 31st July by Zoom.
Downloads:
Job description and person specification
Job description and person specification
Application form
Equal opportunities monitoring form
30th April 2024
ATF West Midlands & Worcestershire- update
ATF West Midlands & Worcestershire held their first meeting at Croome, on 20 April 2024. Please watch the video below for an overview of the event and an update on the plans for the group.
Video filmed and edited by Arb Innovators Ltd (www.arbinnovators.co.uk)
23rd January 2024
VETcert training bursary opportunities for 2024
VETcert training bursaries for 2024
We are delighted to announce we will be offering four 2-day VETcert courses throughout 2024/25, all of which will be in-person. Thanks to the funding provided by the Trees Call to Action Fund, we are delighted to be able to offer a limited number of bursary places on our two-day VETcert courses, reducing the course fee to just £50.
As part of our work around diversity, equality and inclusion, we are very pleased to be able to offer some of these bursaries to professionals in one of three identified under-represented groups (female, young people, people of colour). Additionally, some of our bursaries are available to professionals of any demographic group, interested in taking the Practising Level VETcert exam i.e. likely to be a practising arb rather than a consultant. Bursaries for all categories will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and places are strictly limited, so if you meet any of these criteria, please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Course dates are:
- 24 & 25 April 2024 – The Vyne, Hampshire
- 22 & 23 May 2024 – Ashton Court, Bristol
- 17 & 18 July 2024 – Epping Forest, Essex
- 9 & 10 October 2024 – Mote Park, Kent
If you are interested in applying for a bursary, please email Daniel Richards (Daniel.Richards@ancienttreeforum.org.uk) with ‘VETcert bursary request’ as the subject header and let Daniel know which course you would like to attend (helpful to list a first and second preference if you would be able to attend at different locations/dates), highlighting the reason you believe you qualify for a bursary i.e you identify as a professional from one (or more) of the listed under-represented groups and/or you are a practising arb with the intention of working towards the Practising level VETcert exam.
Once your bursary application has been agreed, you will be sent a separate booking link or placed on a waiting list, if places are full.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions, otherwise we hope to see you at a course sometime in the coming year.
ATF’s training provision is supported by the Trees Call to Action Fund. The fund was developed by Defra in partnership with the Forestry Commission and is being delivered by the Heritage Fund.
18th January 2024
Now available: tips for procurement of VETcert specialists
For anybody interested in procuring advice or practical work for ancient and veteran trees, we now have some top tips available to support this. Take a look at our new webpage: Tips for the procurement of VETcert specialists
