“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Albert Camus photo: ikdz – istanbul
Although this is a beautiful photo and verse that is trending – Camus is not extolling the beauty of autumn, but rather portraying it as false and deceptive replacement for a poverty-stricken and bleak spring, tricking one into thinking that all is in bloom, when in actuality everything is dying. This quote or at least its original French incarnation is from Act 2 of his 1944 play The Misunderstanding (Le Malentendu).
‘Majestic’ oak tree that Charles Darwin may have climbed as a boy will be FELLED to make way for the Shrewsbury bypass – as campaigners say it’s a ‘dark day for the environment’
The 550-year old oak is believed to have been visited by a young Charles Darwin
Despite opposition, a six to five vote decided that the tree would be felled
Over 200 years ago, when a young Charles Darwin may have played in its branches, this majestic oak tree was already 300 years old.
Now 550 years old, Darwin’s Oak and eight other ancient trees will be felled to make way for the £80 million ($97.3m) Shrewsbury North West Relief Road (NWRR).
Despite months of opposition, it only took a narrow vote on the Shropshire planning committee to condemn the trees to destruction.
Advocates for the road say it will connect the North and West of the town, reducing congestion and boosting the economy.
However, campaigners and local opposition groups say the move risks devastating an important piece of green space.
The tree, now known as Darwin’s Oak, stands in a ‘green wedge’ of undeveloped land which extends into the town centre.
Not far from Darwin’s childhood home, it is believed that Darwin may have visited the tree during his frequent walks in the Shrewsbury countryside.
With a girth of 23ft (seven metres), the enormous tree would certainly have been almost impossible for the young naturalist to miss.
However, opposition groups say the newly approved NWRR will bisect this green wedge and threaten a number of important ecological sites.
In addition to destroying 2.5 miles (four kilometres) of hedgerows, the road will also be built feet from four local wildlife sites.
The road will pass by an ancient woodland site, Hencott Pool, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the extremely important Ramsar Wetland.
The Woodland Trust, a forestry conservation group, says that the decision goes against national planning laws that protect ancient trees.
Jack Taylor, lead campaigner for the Woodland Trust, said: ‘Just weeks after the iconic Sycamore Gap tree was lost, we are now faced with the loss of another iconic tree.’
The approval of the road is a ‘dark day for the environment and our natural heritage as it threatens the loss of this living legend, numerous other irreplaceable veteran trees, and will damage nearby ancient woodland,’
Dan Morris, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member of highways, said: ‘I absolutely accept that the NWRR divides opinions, but I’m confident that it will make a huge difference to people, not only within the town, but also in the surrounding villages.’
The council has proposed to plant 345,000 new trees, one for each Shropshire resident, and says that the bypass will have a positive effect on the environment.
In a statement, Shropshire Council said the road will improve air quality by reducing traffic in the town centre and by creating a new network of cycling routes.
However, air quality consultant Mark Broomfield has previously warned that the council has not properly considered the impacts of the road on Hencott Pool which is protected under UK law.
This could lead to a legal challenge being brought against the council and the decision being overturned if it could be shown that the council had not sufficiently assessed the air pollution impact.
Fresh opposition to the decision has already begun to organise, with a petition to overturn the approval gaining almost 5,000 signatures in three days.
Rob McBride, a tree campaigner who launched the petition, told The Guardian: ‘It all ties in with Darwin’s theory of evolution, there’s too many dinosaurs on that committee.
‘It’s a majestic, impressive tree. You can see it straight across the meadow as you come near the River Severn.
‘It’s just a brilliant landmark tree that many people, many residents use … to find solace and to connect with nature.’
The Ancient Tree Forum has strongly objected to the road scheme. ‘on the grounds that it will result in an unacceptable loss of and or deterioration to an ancient tree T58, (the Darwin Oak) at least seven other veteran trees, and many mature and notable trees…. contrary to government policy NPPF para 175c…. Planting even many thousands of young trees is not an adequate substitute.
The news comes shortly after the famous Hadrian’s Wall Gap tree was felled between September 27 and 28. The 300-year-old Sycamore tree was cut down overnight in what the police believe was a deliberate act of vandalism.
Throughout the major cultures of Europe people have held the oak tree in high esteem. To the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Slavs and Teutonic tribes the oak was foremost amongst venerated trees. In each case associated with the supreme god in their pantheon, oak being sacred to Zeus, Jupiter, Dagda, Perun and Thor, respectively. Each of these gods also had dominion over rain, thunder and lightning. It is no coincidence that oak trees are more prone to lightning strikes than many other trees. This is because of the tree’s high water content and the fact that they are frequently the tallest living things in the landscape.
The Druids frequently worshipped and practised their rites in oak groves. The word Druid may derive from a Celtic word meaning “knower of the oak tree”. The Gaelic word for oak is darach and remains in place names such as Glac Daraich (oak hollow/small valley) in Glen Affric.
Mistletoe, probably the Druids’ most potent and magical plant, frequently grew on oak trees. Its presence was believed to indicate the hand of God having placed it there in a lightning strike.
Ancient kings presented themselves as the personifications of these gods. They took on the responsibility not only for success in battle but also the fertility of the land, which relied on rainfall. They wore crowns of oak leaves, as a symbol of the god they represented as kings on Earth. Similarly, successful Roman commanders were presented with crowns of oak leaves during their victory parades. Oak leaves have continued as decorative icons of military prowess to the present day. Oak leaves’ connection with rainfall also survived in more recent folklore. There are a variety of similar rhymes about which tree’s leaves appeared first, such as the Irish saying:
If the oak before the ash,
Then we’ll only have a splash.
If the ash before the oak,
Then we’ll surely have a soak!
The spiritual appreciation of oak did not cease with the advent of Christianity. However, early Christian churches supplanted many oak groves. St. Columba was said to have had a fondness and respect for oak trees and to have been reluctant to fell them. Even so, his early chapel on Iona was constructed of oak from the nearby Mull oakwoods. St. Brendan was divinely inspired to use oak boards instead of traditional hides to cover his coracle. Legend says this small vessel may have carried him to the New World some thousand years before Columbus.
Oak was also favoured for its strength and durability. It was a core part of the distinctive Tudor timbered houses, and artists used its even-grained, honey-coloured beauty for carving and turning. The bark was valued by the leather tanning industry as it contains a lot of tannin. During the Industrial Revolution large amounts were sent from northwest Scotland to Glasgow for this purpose. The bark also yields a brown dye, and oak galls gave the strong black dye from which ink was made. A tonic derived from boiling the bark was used to treat harness sores on horses.
Perhaps because of the oak’s size and presence, much of its folklore concerns specific, individual oak trees. Many parishes used to contain what became known as the Gospel Oak. This was a prominent tree at which part of the Gospel was read out during the Beating of the Bounds ceremonies at Rogantide in spring. In Somerset stand the two very ancient oaks of Gog and Magog. These were named after the last male and female giants to roam Britain. The trees are reputed to be the remnants of an oak-lined processional route up to the nearby Glastonbury Tor. The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is purported to be the tree where Robin Hood and his Merry Men hatched their plots. It is now a popular tourist attraction although this particular tree probably does not predate the 16th century.
In Leicestershire the Topless Oaks in Bradgate Park were said to have been pollarded as a sign of mourning. This was due to the beheading, in 1554, of Lady Jane Grey who had lived nearby. After the battle of Worcester in 1651 King Charles II hid from the Roundheads in a large oak at Boscobel. In 1660 he instigated the 29th of May as Royal Oak Day to celebrate the restoration of the monarchy.
Children would wear oak leaves (or better still, oak apples) as part of a custom which officially lasted until 1859. In fact the tradition continued well into the twentieth century. Once again the symbol of oak leaves had royal connections. And so it won’t be a surprise which plant was the clan badge of the Royal Clan Stewart.
Hunt for the Sycamore Gap vandals as 300-year-old world famous tree is cut down overnight – and theories mount that ‘professionals who knew what they were doing’ are behind it.
The Sycamore Gap, located in Northumberland along the site of Hadrian’s Wall, is one of the UK’s most photographed trees and famously featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.
The iconic tree, which is believed to be 300 years old, was this morning found to have been cut down, with its upper section lying across the historic Roman barrier.
Walkers stopping to look today noticed how part of the tree appeared to have been marked with white paint, indicating someone may have felled it with a chainsaw – which led to claims it was a ‘professional who knew where they were going to cut’.
The tree is located in a dramatic dip along Hadrian’s Wall in the Northumberland National Park – and the park authority believe it was deliberately chopped down.
People have been discouraged from visiting the spot while the hunt for clues goes on and a police investigation takes place.
Alison Hawkins, who lives in Liverpool, was one of the first people on the scene this morning, posting a picture on Facebook of the felled tree with the caption: ‘An awful moment for all walking Hadrians wall the Sycamore Gap tree has gone! Not the storm an absolute * felled it!!’
Known to some as the Robin Hood Tree after its appearance in Kevin Costner’s 1991 film, Sycamore Gap is one of the most photographed trees in the country.
It stands next to Hadrian’s Wall near Crag Lough in Northumberland and is believed to have been planted in the early 18th Century.
It is said to have once stood alongside others but eventually became the only one left – making it especially photogenic.
In Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the hero – played by Costner – is seen pulling leaves from the tree as he walks under it with the warrior Azeem, who is played by Morgan Freeman.
The tree also featured in the music video for American star Bryan Adams’ hit (Everything I Do) I Do It for You, which was the soundtrack for Costner’s Robin Hood film.
In 2003, the tree escaped damage when a helicopter that was filming documentary series British Isles – A Natural History crashed less than 100 feet away.
The four onboard the aircraft were injured, but presenter Alan Titchmarsh, who was standing on the ground, narrowly escaped harm. Titchmarsh said at the time: ‘I was pretty shaken and I was worried the copter was going to explode. The crew scrambled out and ran like hell.’
An eyewitness added: ‘Alan Titchmarsh was very lucky not to be hit. ‘He was almost underneath the helicopter when it fell but jumped out of the way as it came down.
‘The aircraft landed on its side and everyone, including Alan, ran to help. Everyone was amazed the crew were not seriously hurt.’
A Northumberland National Park Authority spokesman said: ‘Northumberland National Park Authority can confirm that sadly, the famous tree at Sycamore Gap has come down over night. We have reason to believe it has been deliberately felled.
‘We are working with the relevant agencies and partners with an interest in this iconic North East landmark and will issue more details once they are known.’
They added: ‘It is not clear currently whether the tree is a victim of Storm Agnes or it is a deliberate act – though pictures indicate a clean and straight cut.’
Matt Brown, 37, of the Twice Brewed Brew Company nearby, was one of the first at the scene. Mr Brown said: ‘I was brewing when I heard a rumour that the tree at Sycamore Gap had been cut down and ran over to see what had happened.
‘It was a quite a shock to see it lying there, that tree is a real icon and to those of us who were born in this area it really means something.
‘It was certainly cut down with a chainsaw – and a big one. It looks as though it has been cut through with one stroke which means the blade must have been about two metres long. ‘It was done overnight and seems to be a thought out and planned act. But why anyone would choose to do such a thing is beyond me.
‘There can’t be anyone with such an issue against that particular tree that they walk a mile at night to go and saw it down, it’s an act of malice but can only be for malice’s sake.
‘The tree can be seen from the old military road that passes by but to access it you have to climb over barbed wire and walk through marshy ground for a mile.
‘I noticed also that the trunk had been marked at the spot where the cut was going to be made.
‘This is someone who knows how to fell trees and made sure it toppled in the right direction, but it’s hard to fathom why anyone would do this.
‘I was speaking to a Canadian lady only yesterday who had come to this spot specifically to see the Sycamore Gap tree, it is an icon and something particularly special to the brewery.
‘Our signature ale is called Sycamore Gap and the tree is our logo. It’s genuinely hard to believe that this has happened.
The Sycamore Gap was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 in the Woodland Trust’s awards and is much-loved by people from across the world.
‘Northumberland National Park Authority would like to ask the public not to visit the site at this time whilst we work with our partners to identify what has happened and to make the site safe.’
A Northumbria Police spokesman said today: ‘A full investigation has been launched after the Sycamore Gap Tree was felled overnight in what officers believe to be a deliberate act of vandalism.
‘A range of enquiries are now ongoing, with the support of partners, as police look to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the damage and identify those involved.
The tree is a world-renowned landmark and the vandalism has caused understandable shock and anger throughout the local community and beyond.’
Superintendent Kevin Waring added: ‘This is an incredibly sad day. The tree was iconic to the North East and enjoyed by so many who live in or who have visited this region.
‘As a Force, are fully committed to finding out the full circumstances and we will consider every tactic at our disposal in this investigation.
‘Anyone found to have been responsible for this damage – which we believe to be a deliberate act of vandalism – can expect to be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.
‘I would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious or knows anything that can assist our investigation to get in touch with us.’
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness also expressed her sadness, writing on X: ‘I’m devastated that the famous Sycamore is gone. I am incandescent that this looks like a deliberate act of vandalism.
‘That tree was ours. An iconic North East landmark. @northumbriapol are at the scene and I’ll be raising this personally today.’
On land owned by the National Trust, it is also known as the Robin Hood Tree because it featured in a scene in the 1991 film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner.
It appeared in the music video for Bryan Adams’ Everything I Do, I Do It for You which featured on the film’s soundtrack and topped the charts for several months.
Landscape and nature author Robert Macfarlane said: ‘I just feel sick.
‘I feel desperately sad about what it says about our wider relationship with trees and with nature in this country. And I feel very angry.’
He said: ‘Just so many memories were stored in that tree and to see that white wood that a chain saw ripped through at some point last night. I just despair really about the state of nature in this country.’
UPDATE ~ Northumbria Police confirmed this afternoon that a 16-year-old boy was arrested todayfor causing criminal damage.
References ~ The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Mirror 28/9/23
I can’t believe that September is nearly over. Roll on October, a month which will see our Missy Moo turn 15, where the clocks go back, we purchase and carve pumpkins, kick the piles of fallen leaves, see the night’s draw in and we have to consider the wearing of raincoats and umbrellas. Out comes my soup recipes and knitted jumpers. This morning it is currently raining quite heavily and I shall remain inside my warm and cosy boat drinking coffee, listening to radio 4 and reading, snuggled next to Missy Moo.
The melancholy of almost autumn. the way the roots drop in the way the sap descends the way the leaves release. the storms and the internal things they brew. the light, diminishing the mist the cooling air the wind, the crisp the apples red and ripe the last color of blood on the earth before the brown humbles us all.
Scientists surveyed Britons on how close they feel to trees and their neighbours 16% felt very close to trees, while only 7% said they felt very close to a neighbour. More people have a close relationship with trees than feel close to their human neighbours, researchers have found.
A survey designed to judge the importance of trees for British people’s daily lives and wellbeing asked volunteers how close they felt to trees in general.
Some 16 per cent felt very close to trees, while only seven per cent said they felt very close to a neighbour.
The survey of more than 1,800 adults, commissioned by the University of Derby, found half of people could name a favourite tree.
Perhaps people just have more trees to choose from, as previous surveys suggest we only know four neighbours on average by name.
Meanwhile the UK has about three billion trees, or an average of 45 trees per person, calculated by analysing aerial photos and estimating tree numbers as was done under the UN’s Plant for the Planet project.
Commenting on the survey findings, Miles Richardson, Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness at the University of Derby, said: ‘Although asking about people’s relationship with trees might seem unusual, we found that it is those who feel a close relationship with the natural world who take positive action towards it.
‘Having a close emotional bond and feeling closely connected to trees and the wider natural world enhances our desire to protect and restore natural environments.’
Lovers of woodland and trees are known as ‘nemophilists’ and many more people fell into this category during the pandemic, as they became more aware of the natural world around where they lived.
In recent years, British people have also embraced ‘forest-bathing’ – the ancient Japanese practice of relaxation involving being quiet and calm amongst trees to reduce stress.
The new survey, involving residents of the National and Mersey Forests and Brecon Beacons National Park, found 81 per cent of those asked said they noticed trees wherever they went.
Meanwhile 86 per cent of people said trees were important for supporting health, by reducing air pollution and creating places for relaxation and peace.
Asked about the biggest threats to trees, almost three-quarters named urban development, while almost two-thirds answered with climate change, 63 per cent said storms, and 55 per cent were worried about new and exotic diseases or pests.
The survey, conducted by YouGov in October last year, follows a recent report by Friends of the Earth stating that 43 per cent of neighbourhoods in England have less than 10 per cent tree canopy cover, while 84 per cent of neighbourhoods have less than 20 per cent of coverage.
Almost all of those surveyed they felt a relationship with nature was significant and that it helped their mental health and wellbeing.
People were asked to choose from a set of diagrams showing overlapping circles to indicate how interconnected they felt with trees.
Those who chose the circles which overlapped the most were judged to have a close relationship with trees, and the same method was used to judge closeness to neighbours.
But the proportion of people close to trees was almost double the proportion close to their neighbours.
The survey found 94 per cent of people agreed that trees improve air quality, 95 per cent said trees sustained wildlife, and 86 per cent said they prevented flooding and erosion.
Professor David Sheffield, who was also involved in the study from the University of Derby, said: ‘Biodiversity has declined at an alarming rate around the planet since 1970.
‘Although many cherish what seems to be a ‘green and pleasant land’, there is a need for a wider understanding that things are not well.
‘Nature needs to be central to our everyday lives and trees are a great starting point.They contribute to our mental wellbeing and physical survival as individuals and as a species.’
A Cork plant scientist has commented on the discovery of cooking bananas growing in West Cork, saying that it might help us re-think the future of crops in this country.
Lecturer and plant scientist Dr Eoin Lettice spoke of his astonishment to hear two bundles of bananas were growing in a Cork garden, adding that the climate changes experienced this summer, including the hottest July on record, has led to a “knock-on effect” for the growth of plants.
The bananas, discovered in the garden of Rolf’s Country House in Baltimore, were the second ever growth on this particular plant, which had been planted 25 years ago.
Owner Friederike Haffner said the shrub, first planted by her mother years ago for the foliage, now has two large flowers, complete with bananas measuring up to 20cm long at present.
Ms Haffner described the discovery as “quite surprising”, before reflecting on the sub-tropical environment evident in the sheltered garden where the plant has thrived.
The wild bananas differ immensely from those we are used to eating, Ms Haffner explained, needing cooking time before they become edible.
“I told my husband he’ll have to come up with some recipes,” she added.
The fruit does have strong connections to Cork, some 4 million bananas arrive on ships from South America into the port of Cork every week.
Dr Lettice said this uncanny discovery may possess a learning curve for the future of Irish crops, adding: “There’s no doubt that in the next number of decades, if not already, we should be thinking about what we could grow in the future with a change in climate.”
Speaking about the surprising growth of these bananas, Dr Lettice revealed that the optimal conditions suitable for these plants to produce fruit had arrived, which does not necessarily mean the same conditions will persist next year.
“For this year at least, they’ve had the right set of conditions to produce bananas, which is exciting,” he added.
“Now, I doubt this means that Ireland will become a hot spot for growing bananas in the future but it’s an interesting kind of botanical anomaly,” he said.
“Do we need to move away from some of the crops that we traditionally grow to more novel crops? Maybe not bananas, but maybe bananas,” he said.
Raising the issue of which crops will survive in our changing climate, Dr Lettice said we may need to come up with an alternative to planting potatoes, “thirsty plants” that may struggle to survive during impending drought periods.
“We’ve had quite dry summers in the past where the growing of potatoes might become very difficult or at least without irrigation, leading to a situation of ‘what do you irrigate?’ Do you use the the available water you have for humans to drink or do you give it to farmers for crops and so on”.
“And where else but West Cork, where you’ve got this wonderful kind of Atlantic climate, so you probably just got the right set of conditions for the fruit to develop this year,” he added.
Bones know truths not yet told. Listen to marrow, to the red beneath the white. Where it is thick. Like syrup or sap inside the trees, the way it descends, to roots. Go to the source of power.
When a caterpillar spins her thread she creates silk out of the sun’s rays. The sun contains that which the moon transforms. Moon, milky white like bone. Changeable, the way insects are. Molting, listen, inside pelvis shaped like butterfly wings.
Listen, inside the places that will be hollow after death. But now, now, they are full of stories. Listen, quieter now, to the way the words come into form. Shapes, smoke signals. rising to the moon and back to source, becoming out of its un-becoming.
We die and we are born and we are reborn.
These human bodies contain echoes of all the stories we’ve ever known. Rippling out beyond the beyond, touching through to every human in the collective. Caterpillars, all of us.
When we listen, when we remember, we give birth to wings.
Words: stasha ginsburg The Wild Matryoshka: Marrow Song Available on Amazon
From the oak that survived a wartime bomb and the Queen Elizabeth I ‘picnic tree’: Woodland Trust reveal shortlist for this year’s Tree of the Year competition.
An oak that survived a wartime bomb and Queen Elizabeth I’s picnic tree are among those on the shortlist to be crowned the Tree of the Year.
The Woodland Trust’s panel of tree experts has shortlisted 12 urban contenders from across the UK for this year’s competition – with one additional tree voted for by the public.
This year’s contest aims to highlight ancient trees located in urban locations with contenders for the 2023 Tree of the Year being located in city parks, busy town centres and residential streets.
Every shortlisted specimen can be visited by the public for free, ‘has an amazing story’ and ‘is loved by locals’, the trust says.
The winner will be crowned in October and represent Britain in the European Tree of the Year competition.
The Woodland Trust claims that each of the trees shortlisted in the competition give thousands of urban wildlife species essential life support, as well as help boost the UK’s biodiversity.
‘Ancient trees in towns and cities are vital for the health of nature, people and planet,’ said Naomi Tilley, lead campaigner at the Woodland Trust.
The trust claims the trees provide a vital habitat for wildlife, help to reduce flooding, screen out noise, provide shade, filter air pollution, increase property values and bring cultural capital to Britain’s streets and parks.
‘But most ancient trees aren’t protected by law, and those in urban areas are particularly vulnerable, like one of this year’s nominees – which narrowly escaped being cut down by Sheffield City Council in 2017,’ Ms Tilley added.
‘Trees like those in the shortlist are remarkable and deserve celebration – and protection.’
According to the trust, YouGov polling revealed that 83 per cent of people in Great Britain support giving ancient trees legally protected heritage status.
The poll also reportedly indicated that 85 per cent of people think the national government and its agencies should have responsibility for protecting them.
Ms Tilley added: ‘The stats show just how much these trees mean to people.’
Chiara George – a teenager with a passion for urban and ancient trees and one of the winners of the Woodland Trust’s recent Youth Innovation competition – has encouraged other Britons to vote for this year’s winner.
She said: ‘Focusing on urban trees in Tree of The Year is super exciting because they are often overlooked despite their importance in maintaining biodiversity, absorbing noise and air pollution on busy roads, and so much more.
It’s really simple to vote for your favourite and help us crown a champion, so please get involved.’
Voting is open on the Woodland Trust’s website until October 15. The organisation will announced the winner on October 19.
Top contenders for Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year
Greenwich Park Sweet Chestnut, located in London
The approximately 360-year-old tree was planted at the request of King Charles II.
The monarch had a bold vision for Greenwich Park after he took the throne in 1660, which included the Palace of Greenwich – which was never rebuilt.
Hundreds of trees have been planted in formal avenues to mimic the French style the King had admired and many are still standing today.
Now, with many tress in the park approaching 400 years old, their contorted and decomposing trunks offer important wildlife habitats including invertebrates and fungi.
Holm Oak Blitz Tree, located in Exeter, Devon
This oak tree, age unknown, has been admired by locals for its resilience and is seen as a symbol of hope and strength.
It survived the devastating attack by 20 bombers on May 45, 1942 that destroyed many buildings in Exeter.
Among those suffering extensive damage was the Southernhay United Reformed Church on Dix’s Field in the city centre. However, the tree, which was located just a few feet from the door, survived.
Cathedral Foxglove Tree, located in Lichfield, Staffordshire
Lichfield’s stunning foxglove tree is approximately 100 years old and the largest foxglove tree in the county.
The trust says it keeps silent vigil over visitors to the Remembrance Garden, which was opened in 1920 to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War I.
The tree is native to China and was introduced to Britain in the 1830s. It shows off colourful foxglove-shaped blooms in springtime.
Lakeside Holm Oak, located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
The approximately 175-year-old holm oak leans over the lake at Jephson Gardens.
The tree has witnessed many events in the town park since it was planted in the 1840s. The tree saw how the park served as pleasure ground for wealthy Victorians and witnessed a period of post-war decline.
The local council restored the park in the early 2000s.
Crouch Oak, located in Addlestone, Surrey
The approximately 880-year-old Crouch Oak is also known as the Queen Elizabeth I picnic tree after the monarch was said to have dined beneath it.
John Wycliff gave sermons under the tree in the 1800s and popular Victorian baptist, Charles Spurgeon, preached there in 1872.
Over its long history, the tree has suffered attacks, including arsonists setting the inside of the trunk ablaze in 2007.
However, fire crews were able to extinguish the flames, giving the tree the chance to survive for many years to come.
Gorton Park Poplar, located in Manchester
The black poplar tree located in Gorton Park serves as a reminder of Manchester’s industrial heritage.
As manufacturing in the city boomed, soot and air pollutants from coal-burning factories killed many of the city’s trees, but the black poplar thrived despite the environmental conditions.
But while the species tolerated pollution, disease has sadly proved fatal for most. Over the last 20 years, many black poplars have succumbed and this Gorton Park specimen is one of only a few thousand that remain.
Grantham Oak, located in Grantham, Lincolnshire
The approximately 500-year-old Grantham Oak towers over a quiet residential street and predates the surrounding houses by several centuries.
The trust says the ares has never been a parkland so the tree is possibly a chance survivor or a lone reminder of the agricultural land that Grantham now occupies.
The local council and residents have installed a protective surface and barrier to keep the tree safe from harm.
Chelsea Road Elm, located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
The approximately 128-year-old Chelsea Road elm is one of the UK’s most famous elms.
Fewer than 1,000 elms stand after Dutch elm disease sadly wiped out over 60 million of them. The tree is also home to the white-letter hairstreak butterfly, a species that has declined 93 per cent since the 1970s.
The tree has been ear-marked for the chop several times, but was saved by local campaigners.
Plymouth Pear, located in Plymouth, Devon
Derriford’s Plymouth Pear is one of the UK’s rarest trees and the only tree species protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
In the spring, the tree is covered with pure white flowers.
The species is thought to live exclusively in wild hedgerows in Plymouth and Truro. A protective barrier safeguards the tree for future generations.
10. Sweet Chestnut, located in Wrexham
The 484-year-old sweet chestnut of Acton Park is a reliable fixture in the landscape.
It has withstood many challenges during its lifetime, from post-war plundering of the park for firewood in the 1940s to dozens of deadly storms.
The trust says the tree is a feature of community events and well-loved by locals for its history, value and beauty.
Highland Gateway Walnut, located in Perth
The Highland Gateway Walnut is believed to be 200 to 300 years old and stands proud in the car park of Inveralmond Retail Park on the A9.
The area is known as the Highland Gateway and is popular with travellers heading north from Perth towards the Highlands.
Visitors admire the tree and especially appreciate it in summer when its boughs offer shade and relief from the hot sun.
Belvoir Oak, located in Belfast
The Belvoir Oak is thought to be the oldest surviving tree in Belvoir Park Forest and may be the oldest in all of Northern Ireland.
It in a fragmented form, making it hard for experts to estimate its age with confidence. But it is claimed that the oaks of Belvoir were over three hundred years old more than a century ago.
The tree is recognised as part of the country’s living heritage, having witnessed the growth of Belfast from a small settlement to the city it is today.
13. Library Holm Oak, located in Westbury Wiltshire
The Library holm oak was chosen from the public nominations and watches over the town library from the public Soisy Gardens.
It is nestled in the town’s hub and is a popular spot for community events.
Its history is unknown, but its enormous size suggests it pre-dates the 18th century building, which was originally Westbury House, once home to prominent mill owner and MP, Abraham Laverton.
Tree Weaver 