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

[bearro.livejournal.com]

*cough* goth *cough*

I like the this shot of the Yew http://squirmelia.fotopic.net/p11639048.html

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I was only in the graveyard because I was looking for trees, I tell you.

[elzbthpdx.livejournal.com]

Yeah for trees! Nice pictures :)

[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?

[tryhank.livejournal.com]

gorgeous.

[haloj.livejournal.com]

*cough* hippy *cough*

Beautiful photographs!

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I didn't hug the tree. :P

[bearro.livejournal.com]

Between hippy and goth there is no contest (with Hippy being the winner obviously)

[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. '

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

They were indeed beautiful trees.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Trees rock!

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Does this mean I can go and live in a commune now?

[fulnic.livejournal.com]

The graveyard at Warblingon is beautiful. I went to school there (in Warblington - not the graveyard) and so spent quite a lot of time in or around the churchyard, by the sea.

Did you see the "castle" ?

Mr F.
x

I forgot to mention

[fulnic.livejournal.com]

The church of St. Mary's and Sennicots at Funtington is set back off the main road with all the pig farms on. Also, don't try navigating using that MOD base as a landmark cos it's not supposed to be on any maps :-)

try here:
Funtington Map (www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=50.8679&lon=-0.8638&scale=25000&icon=x)

Mr F.
x

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

ephoscus seemed to know Warblington well, so it's not surprising you went to school there. I think I saw the castle, but only from a distance. Nice place, apart from the cows! Maybe that made it seem a bit eerie in the dark.

Re: I forgot to mention

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

>set back off the main road

It should have been not so hard to find! Maybe it knew I just wanted to see the yew tree.

[solitarywalker.livejournal.com]

Nice pictures. & i love the idea of a map of ancient trees... it's so un-American!

[fulnic.livejournal.com]

Yep, ephoscus lived about a mile or two away from Warbo church, so he should know it :-) Not sure I remember the cows - oh yes, the smell has just come flooding back to me. *urck*

Re: I forgot to mention

[fulnic.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Portchester Castle ? It's a bit closer and I'm fairly sure they have a Yew tree in the graveyard.

There's also a real pirate buried there.

Re: I forgot to mention

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

I've been to Portchester Castle, but was not looking for trees at the time though. Quite a cool castle although I did not see any dead pirates!

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

"Warbo" - is that special Emsworth slang? ;) The cows are a bit off-putting.

[fulnic.livejournal.com]

Erm... yes. *blush*. It's just what we used to call it, Warblington became a bit of a mouthful if you had to say it untold times every day.

I've never found cows to be off-putting. What were you doing ?

[purplepiano.livejournal.com]

That map is most nifty. There seems to be a couple of public fat poplars near Bedford.

Funtington and Warblington are wonderful names, the first one sounds almost rude. I've lived in England all my life but I still get excited by funny village names.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

>What were you doing ?

I was trying to smell the fresh air, but it just wasn't so fresh.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

Thanks. There are some lovely trees in America also - they should definitely be mapped!

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

It is indeed quite an interesting map. As much as I like yew trees, I would like to search for other kinds of ancient trees next.

I like visiting other parts of the country and noticing the slight differences in the types of placenames that exist, and am also amused at many of them.

Re: I forgot to mention

[ephoscus.livejournal.com]

Bloody Warbo kids ;)

I was a 'Bourne' kid myself. I remember once arriving at emsworth train station to find it lined with Warbo kids. We all thought we were about to get a kicking, we step of the train & somebody shouted "Their alright, they're from bourne". Turns out, they were after some kids from a school in Chi (Chichester) - What a relief that was..

[kaleidazcope.livejournal.com]

robert holdstock: mythago wood. says what i want to say here for me. read it sometime.

[squirmelia.livejournal.com]

My local library says:
"Southampton Central Library SCI-FI On Shelf Adult Fiction"

So, yes, I shall take a look next time I am in the library. Thanks for suggesting it.