Ancient Trees in Warblington and Durley

The locations of various ancient trees can be found by using the Woodland Trust's map. By clicking on your area, you can hunt for ancient trees near to you and find out whether they are accessible to the public. The map can be a little confusing to use, so I would suggest using it in conjunction with another map. Most of the trees that I have investigated so far seem to be yew trees, located in churchyards.

Last weekend, I tried to locate a yew tree in Funtington (Sussex), but the church seemed to be in hiding. I had more luck in Warblington (Hampshire), where the triangular-shaped church stood alongside a wonderful large yew tree. Unfortunately it was rather dark by the time I got there, so I could not see the full depths of the tree's gnarliness.

This weekend, I visited Durley (Hampshire). Again, I wandered around a graveyard, as if I were Harold-and-Mauding, as opposed to just hunting for trees. The yew tree was easy to find, standing in front of the church, protecting it from the road. The middle of the tree seemed slightly burnt out and if I had the energy, I would have made more of an attempt to climb inside it. (I tried half-heartedly, but my hips seemed too large to fit on the first go, and I could not be bothered to pursue it further). Examining the tree, I noticed that on one of the ledges rested a small pile of pebbles. The patterns of gnarl exceeded my hopes, the tree was large and twisted towards the sky.

Durley seemed quiet, the church locked up, and just a few other people were around. A sign declared that it was a haven for wildlife due to its lack of cultivation. From the churchyard, it was possible to look out across a field and see a few lone trees standing beyond the hedges, highlighted by the sudden burst of sunshine.

There are a few photos here.