A guide has been published to tell the stories of the region’s most significant branches.
The guide has been published by the Durham Veteran Trees Project, made up of volunteers from the Durham Biodiversity Project and the Durham Wildlife Trust.
It lists the 52 most important trees in the North East and tells a bit about each one.
The Heritage Lottery funded project was set up to record 1,000 ancient, veteran and notable trees Durham, Darlington, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside.
A shortlist of 52 was then made to be included in the Guide to Veteran Trees, which is now available from the Durham Wildlife Trust.
Project officer Vicky Newlove, of the partnership, said: “These trees have some terrific stories to tell and the guide will celebrate their longevity.
“Trees are important for our landscape and for our wildlife and we should treasure them. We hope this guide will help people to do that.”
Trees in the guide include The Redworth Hall Sycamore, near Darlington, which is believed to be 250 years old.
Another tree, Baal Hill’s Bishop’s Oak at Baal Hill Wood near Tunstall Reservoir, Wolsingham, is thought to be more than 400 years old.
The Harperley Woods Beech at Harperley Woods, Tanfield Lea, is included because of its unusual three leaning stems. The tree is known as the Three Sisters Beech.
The Jarrow White Willow on the western bank of the River Don near Primrose Nature Reserve in Jarrow, makes it into the guide because it is about 100 years old, which is unusual for this type of tree.