One for the record books is a rather special Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa, the tallest in Northern Ireland. The tree has retained its youthful ‘fastigate’ form. Thomas Packenham, author of ‘Meetings with Remarkable Trees’ has named it Cupressus macrocarpa Clandeboye.
Tall, dark, and elegant, this tree, like an ageing film star, has maintained a slim upright figure in spite of advancing age.
It contrasts with more relaxed neighbouring trees which have let themselves go a bit.
Much of the Clandeboye estate is private, though visited by special groups of tree and garden enthusiasts by appointment. The film star tree, however, stands just outside the archway into Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland’s premises, and so may be appreciated by all those joining a CVNI event or course.
There area number of trees of this species in an around Clandeboye. One was spirited away by an estate worker to his cottage which is now part of the Blackwood golf course – sadly this blew down in the great gale of Boxing Day 1998.