The Maia appeared in the Grey Havens in the west of Eriador in the year TA 1000. They took the shape of old men, whom the people referred to as Wizards. Aiwendil arrived simultaneously with Olórin, and Curumo arrived first and by himself. The Wizards wandered Middle-earth after accepting their mission. During this time, Aiwendil was given the name “Radagast” by the Ñoldor and gained reputation for his fierce devotion to animals and his guardianship of the great Forests. He showed little interest for the affairs of Men and Elves, but possessed a far greater understanding of the forest’s plants, birds and beasts. During this time, he also turned away from Saruman, not realizing that the White Wizard hated him and considered him as a fool. Radagast was not much of a traveler, all things considered. His early travels are not well documented, but by the late Third Age, he had made his home and lived for a time in Rhosgobel, which is located somewhere between the Menn-i-Naugrim and the Carrock. The Wizard, stationed on the western boundary of Mirkwood, probably kept watch over the woodland while Dol Guldur’s shadow gradually covered much of it. He probably got to know the inhabitants of that region. He was close to the wildlife and was friend of the Great Eagles. Though Beorn, who lived in the neighborhood, was a reclusive man, he occasionally came across Radagast and and considered him “not bad” for a Wizard. [This article uses material from the “Radagast” article on the The Lord of the Rings wiki at Fandom and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.] [Information Credit Link : https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Radagast ] [License -Link : https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ ] [AI generated art of Radagast]
Charity behind Anglo-Saxon reconstruction says it may be forced to look abroad after struggling to source wood in UK.
The aim is ambitious: to complete a functioning reconstruction of the extraordinary Sutton Hoo burial ship by 2026 and test it on the river and sea, hopefully providing fresh insight into what life was like in Anglo-Saxon times.
But the project, being run by a small charity, is struggling to source the right sort of British oak to finish the build and is calling for donations, worried that if it does not get the wood from the UK, it may have to look overseas.
The historian Dan Snow is among supporters who has backed the plea for British oak from the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company, saying it would be a shame if they had to look overseas for wood for such a project.
Described by the British Museum as the most impressive medieval grave to be discovered in Europe, the treasure-filled ship was found in Suffolk in 1939 by Basil Brown, whose story was dramatised in the film The Dig, starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan.
Since 2018, the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company has been piecing together the reconstruction of the seventh-century ship in Woodbridge, Suffolk, with help from more than 150 volunteers and support from the universities of Oxford and Southampton.
It aims to generate new knowledge about Anglo-Saxon times, its craftspeople, warriors, leaders, and seafarers and has brought together historians, archeologists, ship builders and project managers to lend a hand.
But getting the right wood is proving a challenge. The charity does not have the finances to pay commercial prices so is asking for donations and Tim Kirk, the master shipwright for the project, has been travelling across England and Wales looking for suitable trees.
He said: “The problem is that they are veteran trees and quite reasonably people don’t want to cut them down. I understand that and fully respect that but without those trees, we don’t have a ship.
“There must be trees in Britain that are either windblown or struggling with disease or in the way of a new infrastructure project. They must be there somewhere. We just haven’t found them yet.”
Kirk, a professional boatbuilder, said it did not feel right to look abroad. “The major oak forests in Europe now are in France and Denmark and Poland. We really don’t want to get to that stage where we’re looking at foreign timbers.”
The project manager Jacq Barnard said: “There’s just less oak than they would have been in Anglo-Saxon times. We would love it to be built with English wood.”
Snow posted on X: “We need big oak trees to get this awesome vessel on to the water”, adding: “Don’t make them ask the French.”
The historian said it was a “magical project” that reconnected modern Britons with their medieval history. “It’s the stuff dreams are made of. We can learn so much from building these ships – how they can sail, what they can carry, it’s so exciting.”
But he said: “There’s a shortage of the right kind of British oak – or the availability of it.”
The charity has set out on its website specific cuts of wood it needs. For example, it requires long clear runs of oak from trunks 6 metres in length and up to 1.2 metres diameter (at chest height) for planking and other longitudinal timbers. They need to be straight-grained and clear of knots.
It is also after curved timbers up to 4 metres-long for frames, which come either as curved trunks or larger branches from the lower canopy of the tree.
They are also making 60 oars from oak and ash. These need to be of the straightest sections possible, clear of knots and approximately 6 metres long.
The idea is to build a ship based on the understanding of the materials and building methods that would have been used by Anglo-Saxon shipbuilders.
When the ship is completed, sea trialswill test hypotheses such as how the vessel was propelled (by oars and sail), what it could have been used for and where it may have travelled to.
The charity estimates it will use the equivalent of about 12 mature oak trees to build the ship. It has planted 400 oak trees to replace any it uses and so that people in the future will have the correct timber to carry out similar projects.
It was one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries of all time.
In 1939, the landowner Edith Pretty tasked the archeologist Basil Brown to investigate a large Anglo-Saxon burial mound on her land at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk.
He found more, much more, than anyone could have imagined – the richest intact early medieval grave in Europe comprising the ghostly imprint of a 27-metre (86ft) ship with, at its centre, a burial chamber crammed with treasures, dating to the early AD600s
The find included gold jewellery, Byzantine silverware, a lavish feasting set, luxurious textiles, and military equipment including an enormous shield, a magnificent sword and a helmet wrapped in cloth and laid near the left side of the dead person’s head decorated with images of fighting and dancing warriors.
It clearly commemorated a leading figure of East Anglia, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom and may even have belonged to a king. A popular candidate is Raedwald, who ruled East Anglia and may have held power over neighbouring kingdoms.
Any bodily remains were claimed by the acidic soil and only a human-shaped gap was left among the treasures. Whoever he was, he was probably left-handed as the sword was placed on the person’s right side.
Domestic items were also buried including wooden tubs and buckets, two small cauldrons and one very large one with an intricate iron chain that would have suspended it over a fire.
The burial showed that early Anglo-Saxon England was a place of wonderful craftsmanship and international connections, spanning Europe and beyond and the imagery of cavernous timber halls, sparkling treasures and powerful kings in the Old English poem Beowulf were not fantasy.
Pretty donated the finds to the British Museum and they remain a popular draw, with numbers boosted by the success of the Netflix film The Dig, which dramatised the find.
The Guardian – ‘They must be somewhere’: appeal for British oak to recreate Sutton Hoo ship‘ 4/10/24 by Steven Morris.
Dendrochronology is the scientific method of dating tree rings, to the exact year they were formed. As well as dating them, this can give data for dendrochronology, the study of climate and atmospheric conditions during different periods in history from wood. Dendrochronology derives from Ancient Greek, dendron, meaning “tree”, khronos meaning “time”, and logia” the study of”
“To English folk the mighty oak Is England’s noblest tree; Its hard-grained wood is strong and good As English hearts can be. And would you know how oak-trees grow, The secret may be told: You do but need to plant for seed One acorn in the mould; For even so, long years ago, Were born the oaks of old.” Cicely Mary Barker – The Acorn Fairy, 1895-1973.
In northern Thailand, a fossilized tree was discovered with a height estimate of 72.2 meters. This suggests that the ancient tree, which once graced a lush tropical forest, could have stood at an impressive height exceeding 100 meters, and its presence in the humid tropical environment dates back approximately 800,000 years.
At Forestry England we’re committed to making changes at forests across the country that improve their accessibility and inclusivity. From working with communities local to our forests, we now better understand the range of barriers and are delivering a programme of improvements to address these. From Changing Places toilets to accessible trails, benches and play offers, discover the latest upgrades below.
Changing Places toilet facilities A Changing Place toilet provides the space and facilities needed by people with multiple and complex disabilities who need the support of at least one assistant. Amongst other things, these toilets include a ceiling hoist system and a height-adjustable adult-sized changing bench.
By providing Changing Places toilets, we’re opening up our forests to visitors who may not previously have been able to visit due to their needs, giving them a safe and dignified toilet space.
Changing Places are now installed at eight of our forests, with another three due to be installed by the end of 2024 – at which point we will have more than doubled the number of Changing Places toilets in the nation’s forests.
All-terrain mobility scooters There are a number of reasons why visitors may not be able to explore forests and woodlands on foot. For these visitors, using an all-terrain mobility scooter (such as a Tramper) allows them to navigate the different surfaces and terrains of the nation’s forests with ease, either by themselves or as part of a mixed-ability group.
We’ve added new all-terrain mobility scooters to a number of forests, including Delamere Forest (Cheshire), Thames Chase (Essex), Alice Holt Forest (Surrey) and High Lodge (Suffolk), allowing more visitors the chance to experience the benefits of time spent in the forest. With more still to be delivered, by the end of 2024 these scooters will soon be available to hire at 19 different forests.
How it works Forests offer mobility scooter hire through Countryside Mobility or Outdoor Mobility schemes with prices starting at £2.50 per hour. Some forests have their own vehicles that you can use free of charge or for a small fee.
Inclusive play areas Providing play opportunities suitable for a range of needs and sensitivities is an important part of providing accessible visits to our forests.
Designed to help everyone feel welcome and included, our inclusive play options can include natural materials, quiet zones, adapted and multi-height equipment and sensory features. New inclusive play areas are being installed at Fineshade Wood (Northamptonshire), Thames Chase (Essex) and Hicks Lodge (Leicestershire).
Pedal and Play trails Our Pedal and Play trails were created especially to help cyclists aged 3-11 years old gain skills and confidence in off-road cycling.
New trails and skills hubs are being installed at High Lodge (Suffolk) and Hicks Lodge (Leicestershire). Non-standard cycles were considered in the design for these new trails, to make sure they can be used by people with additional access needs.
Resting areas and shelters have also been incorporated so that whole family groups can visit together – including those needing to rest or shelter from the elements whilst watching others play.
Accessible paths and trails Widening and levelling uneven paths, removing physical barriers and obstacles and providing new trails have been a key part of opening up our forests to more visitors.
New trails that are suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters are being completed at forests across the country, from Chopwell Wood in Tyne and Wear to Abbeyford Woods in Devon.
A new, fully accessible footbridge was installed at Pages Wood, close to London, in July 2023. The previous bridge was narrow and in poor condition, making it difficult and unsafe for people to visit on foot. The new bridge has increased the connection of local people to their woodland, with over 11,000 people now using it each month.
Accessible benches and seating Accessible benches and perches have been trialled at Haldon Forest Park in Devon and will now be rolled out at forests across the country. These provide seating at a mix of different heights for people of different statures, have handles to allow users to push up and out of their seats more easily, alongside having preferable back rest and seat angles.
Many of these bench options enable uses to transfer from wheelchairs or mobility scooters if they wish to do so. Accessible picnic benches will also start appearing in forests from autumn 2024.
Delighted scientists from the National Trust confirm eight new shoots are growing from the stump of the iconic tree – 10 months after it was tragically felled
While the shoots are only between two and four centimetres tall at the moment, each could one day become part of a canopy for a regenerated tree.
As the shoots grow, the National Trust and Northumberland National Park Authority will continue to monitor them and extend the fencing around the area.
Northumberland National Park ranger Gary Pickles, who discovered the shoots, said: ‘I was first at the scene when the tree was discovered felled, and I remember saying hurriedly that it was gone. Now, I hope I can say that it’s back!’
Mr Pickles says he first spotted the new growth while on a routine check of the areas.
He says: ‘It was serendipitous that I decided to walk up to Sycamore Gap to recce a guided walk planned for September, almost a year to the anniversary.
Mr Pickles adds: ‘My job as ranger for Hadrian’s Wall Path is all about conserving the past. So, in my head I had consigned the tree to history and so I am amazed and delighted that it may have a future after all and is making a go of it.’
This new growth is possible because, even though the main body of the tree was felled, the Sycamore Gap Tree actually never died.
Instead, the trunk and root section continued to live on in the soil and scientists had hoped that it might be strong enough to put out new growth when the seasons changed.
Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust at Hadrian’s Wall, said: ‘The tree was a mature, vigorous tree in its prime when it was felled so there was always the potential for the stump to regenerate and it’s fantastic to see the regrowth.’
The plan to preserve the legacy of the Sycamore Gap Tree will now require patience and careful monitoring of the young shoots.
Although the growth is a good sign, the tree remains in a fragile condition and the National Trust will take additional measures to protect the tree.
This includes expanding the fenced-off area around the stump to avoid soil compaction around the tree’s roots.
Mr Poad also asks that people refrain from scattering the ashes of their loved ones in the area either on the stump or on the ground.
While acknowledging that the area is ‘a special location to many people’ he also stresses that ashes could ‘significantly hinder the growing process by limiting the absorption of essential nutrients from the soil.’
The National Trust’s hope is that with careful protection the shoots will naturally grow and develop until a decision can be made about their management.
Mr Poad says: ‘Our aim is to leave all eight shoots to grow for a few years – to see how they develop.
The company of Trees is an Inter-generational Art Collaboration between the current 6th. class in Kilmeen N.S. and a collection of elders in the Kilmeen community affectionately known as the ”Gransterz “ in West Cork. The project was initiated in 2018 and is now in its 6th and final year culminating in an exhibition as the current 6th class complete their tenure in primary school, (June 2024). The Creative Coordinator is Liz Twomey , Artist in Residence Pauline Walsh and kindly sponsored by Cork County Council, Creative Ireland, Coillte, Clonakilty and Dunmanway Credit Union, Carbery Group, JMC Parts, Lisavaird Co-Op, Inchydoney Hotel, Clonakilty Food Company and Drinagh Co-Op.
June 2020 ~
Gransterz and 4th class reunited !!
May 2022 ~ Gransterz and 4th class enjoy a willow weave workshop with basket maker Rosemary Kavanagh.
June 2022 ~ Outdoor forest mural .. the work begins.
July 2022 ~ Forest bathing!
November 2022
January 2023
March 2023 ~ The Bigger Picture!!..our first collaborative work ..young hands and older wiser hands join forces to create a timeless forest to celebrate 60 years of Rossmore Drama and we launch a preview exhibition of The Company of Trees .. watch this space…the best is yet to come !!
June 2023 ~ If you went down to the woods on Saturday you would have had such a lovely time as part of the Crinninú na nÓg event in Castlefreke Woods and In the Company of Trees. We enjoyed art, meditation, music from the Salamanders, art wisdom from the Gransterz and Pauline Walsh (artist in residence).
October 2023 ~ The Company of Trees will be sharing woodland art space with guest artist Siobhán Rea, joining her in her 8.30 a.m. daily drawing ritual now in it’s 26th year!
The Company of Trees had the honour and privilege of welcoming Jeremy Irons to our Granster Garden with a sit down break on our story chair, where he sharing worldy advice about life the universe and everything . A true embassidor for the environment and an inspiration for Youngsterz and Gransterz alike !! A day to remember and a definite highlight in our collective Company of Trees journey !!🍃🍂🍁 Thank you Jeremy for sharing some wonderful life wisdom with us . Some days are made to treasure and this was one of those days. 💞
March 2024 ~ Forest floor 🍃🌱🐾🍃. ….collaborative art work with artist in residence Pauline Walsh.
April 2024 ~ Lollipop tree planting for International Earth Day …little hands getting down and dirty.
One of Ireland’s best known women,biologist,TV and radio presenter,educator and author Éanna Ní Lamhna visited Kilmeen to become another chapter in The Company of Trees story. It’s roots are spreading and it’s branches are blooming as we head into the final stretch of our amazing intergenerational journey.
May 2024 ~ Wonderful in Killarney National Park with the wonderful Conservation Park Rangers Mary and Pádraig…thank you for a lovely day!!
June 2024 ~ Life masks keep a watchful eye at the opening of The Company of Trees exhibition O’Donovans Hotel Clonakilty🍃🍂
Go to the Facebook page ‘The Company of Trees’ for all the podcasts and videos etc within this blog. There is plenty more to see.
Tree Weaver 