[[File:Sugar Maple-Acer saccharum-Comfort Maple Conservation Area-Town of Pelham-Ontario-OHAR5725-20221023 (1).jpg|thumb|Comfort Maple, in Pelham, Ontario]] A '''heritage tree''' is typically a large, individual tree with unique value, which is considered irreplaceable. The major criteria for heritage tree designation are age, rarity, and size, as well as aesthetic, botanical, ecological, and historical value.<ref name="Coates2006">{{cite book|last=Coates|first=Peter A.|title=American Perceptions of Immigrant And Invasive Species: Strangers on the Land|url=https://archive.org/details/americanpercepti00coat_0|url-access=registration|access-date=30 June 2012|year=2006|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-24930-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/americanpercepti00coat_0/page/140 140]–}}</ref> Heritage tree ordinances are developed to place limits upon the removal of these trees; the ordinances are oriented towards a specific tree, not a woodland.<ref name="Giusti2005">{{cite book|last=Giusti|first=Gregory A.|title=A Planner's Guide For Oak Woodlands|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T18IDGRSt78C&pg=PA90|access-date=30 June 2012|year=2005|publisher=ANR Publications|isbn=978-1-879906-75-4|pages=90–91}}</ref> Heritage trees in Singapore are protected by law under the [https://heritagetrees.nparks.gov.sg/ Heritage Trees Scheme] adopted on 17 August 2001. The oak is depicted as England's heritage tree.<ref name="WatertonWatson2010">{{cite book|last1=Waterton|first1=Emma|last2=Watson|first2=Steve|title=Culture, Heritage and Representation: Perspectives on Visuality and the Past|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hfw3uJMT43EC&pg=PA152|access-date=30 June 2012|date=31 May 2010|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-0-7546-7598-3|pages=152–}}</ref> [[File:01044jfQuirino_Tamarindus_Amihan_Narra_Molave_Project_17_Anonas_Quezon_Cityfvf.jpg|150px|thumbnail|right|Heritage Tamarind, Quezon City]] In the US, the first state-sponsored heritage tree program began in 1995 in Oregon with the Giant Sitka Spruce.<ref name="Barnes2004">{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Christine|title=Only in Oregon: Natural and Manmade Landmarks and Oddities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPmlju-T3moC&pg=PA10|access-date=30 June 2012|date=30 May 2004|publisher=Farcountry Press|isbn=978-1-56037-292-9|pages=10–}}</ref> In Iowa, the Living Heritage Tree Museum contains descendants of famous trees.<ref name="JonesCoffey2009">{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=Eric|last2=Coffey|first2=Dan|last3=Thorkelson|first3=Berit|title=Iowa Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bsk0YKq0fmcC&pg=PA195|access-date=30 June 2012|date=10 November 2009|publisher=Globe Pequot|isbn=978-0-7627-5419-9|pages=195–}}</ref> In the state of Washington, there are several categories of heritage trees, such as Historical, Specimen, Rare, or Significant Grove.<ref name="Nolon2003">{{cite book|last=Nolon|first=John R.|title=Open Ground: Effective Local Strategies for Protecting Natural Resources|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SYoFGy1C8_sC&pg=PA441|access-date=30 June 2012|date=1 May 2003|publisher=Environmental Law Institute|isbn=978-1-58576-055-8|pages=441–}}</ref>
The city of Portland, Oregon maintains a database of trees designated as heritage trees.<ref>[https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/38294 Urban Forestry | The City of Portland, Oregon<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
== Examples of heritage and named trees == <ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-24 |title=Heritage and named trees |url=https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/ancient-trees/ancient-tree-sites-to-visit/heritage-and-named-trees/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Ancient Tree Forum |language=en}}</ref> * Ankerwycke Yew, Berkshire * Bellmount Ancient Burry Oak, Belton Park, Lincolnshire * The Royal Oak, Richmond Park * Ancient Yew, St Helen's Church, Darley Dale, Derbyshire * Linton Yew, Herefordshire * Newton's Apple, Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire * Fraternal Four, Borrowdale * Waterloo Beech at Lowther
== Social and cultural significance ==
===Incorporating the social and cultural significance of large ancient trees into conservation policies===
Beyond their ecological functions, ancient trees are also considered to possess significant social and cultural value. Some studies indicate that ancient trees not only provide humanity with material resources such as timber and fruit, but also play important roles in religion, aesthetics, history, and local culture.
In many regions, ancient trees are closely associated with myths, legends, and traditional festivals, often seen as symbols of community memory and identity. For example, in Lao, Isan, and Turkic cultures, trees are depicted as world trees or cosmic connectors, linking heaven and earth with the underworld, symbolizing prosperity, protection, and ancestral memories.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bouphapanya |first=Souliya |last2=Hongsuwan |first2=Pathom |date=2024-07-30 |title=Trees in Lao Myths and Beliefs: Roles and Symbolic Ecological Meanings through the Aspects of Folklore |url=https://ecohumanism.co.uk/joe/ecohumanism/article/view/3590 |journal=Journal of Ecohumanism |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=834–845 |doi=10.62754/joe.v3i4.3590 |issn=2752-6801|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sadigli |first=Parinaz |date=2024-04-25 |title=The Cult of Tree in the Culture of the Turkic Peoples |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/atdd/issue/84083/1486345 |journal=Akademik Tarih ve Dusunce Dergisi |language=en |doi=10.46868/atdd.2024.744 |issn=2148-2292|url-access=subscription |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sarbasov |first1=Zh. |last2=Kdyralieva |first2=Z. |date=2020-12-09 |title=The Image of a Tree in Ancient Literary Heritage |url=https://bulletin-philology.kaznpu.kz/index.php/ped/article/view/209 |journal=Bulletin Series of Philological Sciences |volume=74 |issue=4 |pages=311–314 |doi=10.51889/2020-4.1728-7804.63}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sornsena |first=Surasak |last2=Apirating |first2=Preechawut |last3=Suksamran |first3=Sipp |date=2021-05-10 |title=The Beliefs and Aesthetics of Isaan Heritage Trees |url=https://www.richtmann.org/journal/index.php/ajis/article/view/12458 |journal=Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies |volume=10 |issue=3 |page=158 |doi=10.36941/ajis-2021-0072 |issn=2281-4612|doi-access=free }}</ref>
Indian and Japanese traditions associate specific trees with the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation, while Slavic and Central Asian mythology emphasizes trees as sources of healing, creation, and protection.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kaur |first=Manmeet |date=2025-05-15 |title=Trees of Eternity: A Study of Pīpala and Matsu in Indian and Japanese Death Beliefs |url=https://djs.du.ac.bd/trees-of-eternity-a-study-of-pipala-and-matsu-in-indian-and-japanese-death-beliefs/ |journal=Journal of Japanese Studies: Exploring Multidisciplinarity |volume=3 |pages=1–14 |doi=10.55156/jjsem.Dec2401|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Scholars suggest that when formulating policies and laws for the protection of heritage trees, these social and cultural values should be considered simultaneously in order to promote public participation and enhance the overall benefits of ecological protection.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Blicharska |first=Malgorzata |last2=Mikusiński |first2=Grzegorz |date=December 2014 |title=Incorporating Social and Cultural Significance of Large Old Trees in Conservation Policy |url=https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.12341 |journal=Conservation Biology |language=en |volume=28 |issue=6 |pages=1558–1567 |doi=10.1111/cobi.12341 |issn=0888-8892 |access-date=2025-11-07|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Maleknia |first=Rahim |last2=Heindorf |first2=Claudia |last3=Rahimian |first3=Mehdi |last4=Saadatmanesh |first4=Reza |date=June 2024 |title=Do generational differences determine the conservation intention and behavior towards sacred trees? |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2666719324000980 |journal=Trees, Forests and People |language=en |volume=16 |article-number=100591 |doi=10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100591|doi-access=free }}</ref>
===Establish common standards for determining the status of ancient trees===
Some researchers are attempting to establish common cross-regional standards for the identification of ancient trees.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ritchie |first=Myles |last2=Szuster |first2=Brian |last3=Kaufman |first3=Andrew |date=2021-04-03 |title=Establishing consensus criteria for determining heritage tree status |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03071375.2020.1814655 |journal=Arboricultural Journal |language=en |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=73–92 |doi=10.1080/03071375.2020.1814655 |issn=0307-1375|url-access=subscription }}</ref> These standards are typically based on the historical, cultural, and natural characteristics of ancient trees to reflect their comprehensive value.
== Heritage tree preservation in the UK ==
=== Tree Preservation Order === thumb|The Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 <ref>{{Cite web |title=File:The Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (SSI 2010-434).pdf - Wikipedia |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Town_and_Country_Planning_(Tree_Preservation_Order_and_Trees_in_Conservation_Areas)_(Scotland)_Regulations_2010_(SSI_2010-434).pdf |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=commons.wikimedia.org |language=en}}</ref> Without prejudice to subsection (7) of section 198(1) (power to make tree preservation orders) or subsection (1) of section 200(2) (tree preservation orders: Forestry Commissioners) and, subject to the exceptions in regulation 14, no person shall—<blockquote>a. cut down;
b. top;
c. lop;
d. uproot;
e. willfully damage; or
f. willfully destroy,</blockquote>any tree to which an order relates, or shall cause or permit the carrying out of any of the activities in sub-paragraphs (a) to (f) to such a tree, except with the written consent of the authority and, where such consent is given subject to conditions, in accordance with those conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation)(England) Regulations 2012 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/605/regulation/13/made |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615160207/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/605/regulation/13/made |archive-date=2025-06-15 |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=www.legislation.gov.uk |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Relevant laws === The law on Tree Preservation Orders is in Part VIII of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended and in the Town and [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/605/contents/made Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012] which came into force on 6 April 2012. Section 192 of the Planning Act 2008 made further amendments to the 1990 Act which allowed for the transfer of provisions from within existing Tree Preservation Orders to regulations. Part 6 of the Localism Act 2011 amended section 210 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 concerning time limits for proceedings in regard to non-compliance with Tree Preservation Order regulations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Cultural heritage Category:Environmental protection *