Hidden away in an archaeological park near Naples, Italy, a wild fig tree has been growing upside-down for decades. Its roots are embedded in the ceiling of an archway, meaning the plant’s branches – which sometimes bear fruit – hang towards the ground.
This strange tree is set in the modern-day town of Bacoli, the site of the lost town of Baiae, which is often referred to as Las Vegas for the uber-wealthy of ancient Rome – a hedonistic weekend break destination.
The common fig tree, Ficus Carica, is native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia, but now it can be found in every corner of the world. The edible fig was one of the first plants ever that humans cultivated. Ancient fig fossils have been found in the Jordan Valley, North of Jericho,and they date back to 9400-9200 BC.
Edible fig was very widespread in Ancient Greece, and it was also a popular food source for the Romans as well. So, it’s quite likely that the wealthy guests of Baiae were feasting on figs too.
Most of the ancient town – which lies near Naples – is underwater today, but the parts of it remain on land and can be explored in the Parco Archeologico delle Terme di Baia.
The Italian reference site Storie di Napoli says that the tree grew upwards in a normal fashion until the 1940s, but when excavations of the archaeological site began, the tree was destroyed. However, its roots survived, giving life to a new tree that grew from the peculiar position from which it hangs today.
It seems to be getting all the nutrients it needs – the Royal Horticultural Society says that fig trees ‘need a warm, sunny, sheltered spot’ to grow, adding that ‘restricting their roots encourages fruiting’.
While the archaeological site has long drawn in visitors, the upside-down tree has become a minor tourist attraction in itself.
Tripadvisor reviewer ‘Bidule05’, who toured the archaeological park, declared: ‘We were amazed to see a fig tree growing upside down… it was the highlight of the visit!’
Contemporary Italian writers such as Antonella Cilento and Patrizia Rinaldi have even woven this peculiar tree into their stories, Storie di Napoli adds.
The fig tree can be found a stone’s throw from Parco Archeologico delle Terme di Baia’s Temple of Mercury, which actually served as a Roman baths rather than a temple.
According to historians, the ancient town of Baiae was where the rich and powerful of Rome came to drink and be merry – and indulge in debauchery.
In the TV series Secrets of the Dead: Nero’s Sunken City, Professor Kevin Dicus, who has experience in excavating these Roman ruins, said: ‘Some of the greatest names of the Roman republic… Caesar, Cicero, Mark Anthony, Nero, all of these men had villas at Baiae.
The ruins that have been lost to the sea can be explored via a glass-bottom boat tour or on a guided scuba excursion.
Know Before You Go
It is not really hard to find with a car and a navigator. Just arrive to Baia/Bacoli and follow the street signs.
Cambridgeshire council plan to chop down orchard of 500 mature trees – to make way for a ‘green bus lane’
The decision was voted in despite 2,300 opponents signing a petition
Coton Orchard, near Cambridge, is a designated habitat of principal importance
Coton Orchard, near Cambridge, has around 1,000 trees producing 26 varieties of apples, as well as plums and pears, and is a designated habitat of principal importance.
But county councillors voted 33 to 26 in favour of the new bus-only route which will link the university city with Cambourne, a growing new town eight miles away.
The decision came despite 2,300 opponents signing a petition and impassioned pleas during the full council meeting to reconsider the ‘utterly destructive’ proposal.
Anna Gazeley, whose family own the orchard which was planted in 1922 told councillors: ‘Traditional orchards are hotspots of biodiversity in the countryside, supporting a wide range of wildlife as well as an array of nationally rare and nationally scarce species.
Anna Gazeley’s father Albert bought the orchard in 1996 after returning to Cambridgeshire from Hong Kong. “My father bought this nearly 30 years ago as a way to stop development, to preserve the fruit-growing heritage of Cambridgeshire and to preserve his own memories of growing up here in Cambridge.”
“The fruit trees at Coton Orchard were first planted for the production of apples for the wholesale trade in Covent Garden and latterly for the production of apple juice and cider. One hundred years on and it is one of the last few traditional orchards left in the UK and the largest in the county. No longer economically viable as a fruit farm, development of a garden centre on the fringe has afforded the present owners the ability to preserve the original orchard, leaving it relatively untouched and a haven for wildlife.”
“The option in front of the council would bisect the orchard with a new road, destroying at least a third of the trees and replacing it with tarmac, leaving it unmanageable as an orchard. The disruption and noise from construction and any buses that would run along it in the future will drive out the remaining wildlife presently calling Coton Orchard home. In the midst of a biodiversity emergency, it is clear that we need to protect our habitats now more than ever. An off-road routing through the orchard, especially when a less costly (both environmentally and economically) option exists, is beyond foolhardy.”
They are designated habitats of primary importance and rightly accorded protections. ‘
Steve Oram, orchard biodiversity manager at the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, said the £160 million bus route was an ‘utterly destructive proposal’, adding the environmental loss ‘cannot be compensated for’.
Coton Parish Council has previously warned the guided busway would save just 1.5 to 3.5 minutes on a typical journey compared to using an on-road bus lane.
But Lib Dem council leader Lucy Nethsingha referred to a UN report this week which highlighted the need to decarbonise economies.
She said: ‘Quality public transport links are a key part of decarbonisation.. Moving to a net zero economy cannot be done without changing the way we travel.’
The council will seek approval from the government and a public enquiry will take place before a final decision is made.
The scheme was devised by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, which is already under fire for hugely unpopular proposals to introduce a £5-a-day charge for cars – more for vans and lorries – on weekday journeys to, from and within a zone that covers virtually the entire city.
THOSE AGAINST
James Littlewood, chief executive for Cambridge Past, Present and Future, had appealed to councillors to act in the interests of nature.
“Everyone wants to see better public transport to the west of Cambridge but we shouldn’t have to destroy our environment and heritage for future generations in order to achieve that,” he told the Cambridge Independent.
“There is a viable alternative scheme for a bus lane on the existing road which could achieve similar journey times, is less damaging to the environment, is far less expensive and can be delivered more quickly. All we are asking is that the two schemes are properly compared before a decision is made.”
The C2C busway will link Cambourne and Cambridge via the new Bourn Airfield development, a new travel hub at Scotland Farm, Hardwick, and the University of Cambridge’s West Cambridge campus.
The Friends of the River Cam, a voluntary organisation, described it as a “Trojan horse”, designed to open up new areas of greenfield land for housing and industrial development.
“Building concrete runways through ancient orchards and other green spaces at vast expense is a method of increasing land values and making them easier to build on – not solving Cambridge’s dreadful traffic congestion as the GCP claims,” said Susan Buckingham, a spokesperson for the river group.
She added: “There are far better ways of extending existing roads for more bus use than busways dreamed up by an unrepresentative GCP whose advisory group is packed full of those with commercial interests.”
Sharon Cairns, of Coton Loves Pollinators, said: “We are horrified by the proposal to run a 20-metre width of tarmac across the historic Coton Orchard. This traditional orchard is a designated Priority Habitat, the largest of its kind in Cambridgeshire and of recognised national significance. It is a simple fact that no mitigation scheme can compensate for the loss of this habitat, which includes an ancient hedgerow foraged by protected rare bat species.
“Moreover, it makes no sense for our local politicians to back wildlife recovery projects on one hand, whilst at the same time also backing projects which destroy irreplaceable habitat, especially when there is a viable alternative.”
Chris Pratten, of Save the West Fields, added: “We are horrified that the GCP is continuing with plans to build an unnecessary road across the West Fields. The proposed route requires a significant ‘flyover’ to be built over the Bin Brook at the eastern edge of the West Fields, despite the High Court having previously agreed that this area of Green Belt is important to the historic setting of Cambridge. There are other less damaging options.”
Council sparks fury as workers begin chopping down 129 trees ‘under cover of darkness’ as part of controversial £12.7million regeneration project.
The Conservative-run Plymouth City Council suddenly gave the green light on Tuesday evening to remove more than a hundred trees following months of delay – despite facing heavy criticism over the plans.
Campaigners collected more than 12,000 signatures as part of a petition against removing the trees but the council pressed ahead, citing the need to create a ‘business friendly’ centre as part of a £12.7m regeneration.
Protesters turned out in Plymouth city centre after contractors moved in to cut down the trees but were well outnumbered by police and security guards.
An environmental group quickly appealed for a High Court injunction which was issued at 1am, forcing contractors to halt work, but by the time it was delivered the vast majority of trees had already been felled, with only around 12 now remaining.
The contentious move has been blasted by environmental activists, with Springwatch host Chris Packham weighing into the debate to criticise the council.
BEFORE
AFTER
When the removals began, Plymouth County Council assistant chief executive Giles Perritt said: ‘We need to get on with this scheme. We’ve listened, we have made more environmental improvements and have added more trees but our core priority has to be creating a smart, business friendly, attractive, city centre.
‘We cannot lose sight of why we wanted this scheme to happen in the first place. We know some people will not be happy with this but we hope that the majority of our residents will appreciate that we have done all we can to address people’s concerns.’
Work on the £12.7m regeneration was due to start this spring after being put on hold in November 2022 due to the row over tree removal.
The Conservative-run council carried out a ‘meaningful community engagement’ on the plan in February and yesterday evening, and its leader Cllr Richard Bingley signed off a decision notice for the scheme to go ahead.
Some defended the development, arguing that the trees and plants would be replaced by others once the scheme had been completed – but their voices were largely drowned out by others who slammed the decision as ‘appalling’.
Labour MP Luke Pollard said: ‘Appalled Plymouth’s Conservative council are chopping down one hundred trees in the city centre right now under the cover of darkness. They have not listened to local people.
‘We are in a climate emergency and their actions are nothing short of environmental vandalism.’
Charlotte Holloway, Labour councillor for Drake Ward and Plymouth, said on Facebook: ‘Feeling incredibly sad and dejected tonight at what is happening to the Armada Way trees. You go into politics to try and make a difference and then things like this are forced through completely at odds with the vast majority of public sentiment I’ve heard.
‘I want a modern, vibrant, thriving Plymouth fit for the future. And that 100% can be done without taking away the trees that I and so many others played by growing up as a child here.’ Labour Councillor Chris Penberthy added he was ‘shocked at the brutal way this decision has been made and implemented’.
He wrote: ‘Ultimately the decision to remove these trees sits with the Conservative administration elected by the people of Plymouth in May 2021.
‘Plymouth Labour would not have approached the Armada Way development in such a cavalier manner and we would have prioritised meaningful community engagement from the outset.’
Campaign group STRAW (Save the Trees Armada Way) took aim at the council on its social media channels, saying: ‘We are witnessing monsters in the night. Monsters that destroy trees and monsters that sit behind desks ordering their destruction.’
Commenting on the Plymouth Live Facebook page, Caroline Tall said: ‘Absolutely disgusting. PCC have excelled themselves this time. They will regret this.’
Oll Lewis added: ‘I think if you have to do something in the dead of night for fear the people who actually vote for you might try and stop you, that should be a MASSIVE CLUE that what you are trying to do is stupid, unpopular and wrong.’
A Plymouth City Council Spokesperson, said: ‘We can confirm that the Council received an injunction at 12.57am to cease the further removal of the trees on Armada Way.
‘We instructed contractors to stop work immediately. We will be obtaining legal advice once we have received the claimant’s application, as directed by the court.’
She sat at the back and they said she was shy She led from the front and they hated her pride They asked her advice and then questioned her guidance They branded her loud then were shocked by her silence
When she shared no ambition, they said it was sad So she told them her dreams and they said she was mad They told her they’d listen then covered their ears And gave her a hug whilst they laughed at her fears
And she listened to all of it thinking she should Be the girl they told her to be best as she could But one day she asked what was best for herself Instead of trying to please everyone else
So she walked to the forest and stood with the trees She heard the wind whisper and dance with the leaves And she spoke to the willow, the elm and the pine And she told them what she’d been told time after time
She told them she felt she was never enough She was either too little or far, far too much Too loud or too quiet, too fierce or too weak Too wise or too foolish, too bold or too meek
Then she found a small clearing surrounded by firs And she stopped and she heard what the trees said to her And she sat there for hours not wanting to leave For the forest said nothing, it just let her breathe
The beautiful picture is by Siski Kalla from our children’s book of this poem https://a.co/d/6fcwvfj
And the poem itself is also in the collection Talking to the Wild https://a.co/d/9FFiRrW
Tree Weaver 