Ancient Trees in Warblington and Durley

[squirmelia]

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.

Comments

[eatsoylentgreen.livejournal.com]

how neat, for so many reasons. I hope you won't mind some yankee blathering.

First, I've only been to London, so I can't imagine the English countryside. But the map thing is cool that way.

Second, it's fun thinking there's a group of Brits who care about old trees enough to make an interactive web map of them. I would enjoy such odd people.


And how old is old? When were these trees planted?

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

According to the website: "An ancient tree is difficult to define precisely. However it is one that is old, fat or hollow by comparison with other trees of the same type." So, basically, I have no idea how old an ancient tree really is.

I found this about Durley on the Southern Life (http://www.southernlife.org.uk/durleych.htm) website:

'Legend adds that Oliver Cromwell on a visit tethered his horse to the Yew tree outside the south porch of the Church. True story or not, that Yew tree is over 700 years old.'

(While searcing for that, I found the A vision of Britain through time (http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/Travellers/chap_page.jsp?t_id=Cobbett&c_ID=13&cpub_ID=0) website and it had this wonderful quote about Durley from William Cobbett in 1823:

'I was very much pleased with what I saw at Durley, which is about two miles from Botley, and is certainly one of the most obscure villages in this whole kingdom. Mrs. Mears, the farmer’s wife, had made, of the crested dog’s-tail grass, a bonnet which she wears herself. I there saw girls platting the straw. They had made plat of several degrees of firmness; and they sell it to some person or persons at Fareham, who, I suppose, makes it into bonnets. '