LDNPA
Park bosses have warned that carving into trees “comes at a cost to nature”
People carving into trees in the Lake District are causing “lasting harm”, according to those who run the national park.
The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) said carvings were not “just surface scratches” but were leading to issues such decay and fungal infections.
It said while it did not know how widespread the problem was in the area, engravings were usually found collectively in “quiet, secluded areas”.
Woodlands officer Olivia Wass said: “What might feel like leaving a memory actually leaves a scar that damages a living tree and disrupts the ecosystem around it.”
The LDNPA said carving may “seem like a relatively harmless act of vandalism” but it “comes at a cost to nature”.
One area where the carvings were found was by Windermere.
Ms Wass said: “A wound doesn’t close over like a cut on skin… instead, the tree grows new wood and bark around the damaged area to seal it off.
“This process takes time and energy, and the original injury can remain inside the tree for life.”
LDNPA
One area where the carvings were found was by Windermere
She said the open wound then becomes an “an easy entry point for fungi, bacteria and sometimes insects”.
“Once inside, decay can spread into the wood, reducing the tree’s strength and making it more vulnerable to storms or other stresses,” Ms Wass continued.
LDNPA said thin barked species like beech, birch and young oaks were particularly vulnerable due to their protective layer being easily breached.
Ms Wass said: “Carvings aren’t just surface scratches, they cause lasting harm.
“Each cut can weaken the tree, shorten its life, and reduce the benefits it gives to wildlife and people.”