The Cork Oak Quercus suber lives up to its name in its native Spain and Portugal where the bark is harvested to provide corks for wine and other bottles. The specimen at Tollymore, in Co. Down, is carefully protected behind a wooden fence just within the arboretum, perhaps to prevent people helping themselves to a […]
And Coronations too
In the centre of Eglinton, Co Derry, a truly English oak was planted for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. This very special oak was grown from an acorn from one of the famous oak trees in Windsor Great Park around the royal residence of Windsor Castle. The tree stands in a small grassy […]
For a Wedding
Within the Seaforde Demesne and in Seaforde village, Co. Down, there are many fine trees. Some trees owe their existence to staff of the estate, especially Mr Allan who was in charge of all the gardens and grounds in their heyday in the last century. Visitors to the gardens drive past a varied selection of […]
…and Death
There is a long association of evergreen, dark trees with burial grounds. At Caledon, Co. Tyrone, seat of the Earls of Caledon, a fine memorial may be seen from the main road through the village. Most notable are the monkey puzzle trees which form an avenue to the monument. Above this, now partly obscured by […]
In Birth…
Within the grounds of the great house at Hillsborough is one extra tall pine, Pinus insignis. Its accompanying plaque states that it was ‘held by the infant Earl of Hillsborough when it was planted on 8th January 1871 to commemorate his birth’. This conjures up a wonderful vision of carefully, guided chubby infant hands clutching […]
The Hotel Oak
This oak has a special claim to fame as the first tree in Northern Ireland to be protected by a Tree Preservation Order. It stands right behind the Killyhevlin Hotel, on the main road just east of Enniskillen. When the hotel was extended, a tree expert insisted that care was taken not to damage the […]
Stately at Enagh
On the lawn outside Enagh House is a most magnificent oak tree, perfect in form, with smooth trunk and a mass of branches spreading out symmetrically. The trunk is relatively modest in girth compared with the immense area of the canopy which creates its own tree kingdom. It is the focus for incredibly rich wildlife, […]
An Oak Alone
Long before Gosford was an official forest, it had trees. Great oaks were known to be here centuries ago and some have survived, amazingly, surrounded by spruce in forest plantations. Just by the main car park is a path leading towards the arboretum. Right beside that path, standing proud in an area newly cleared of […]
An Orchard Oak
This oak stands in an orchard outside the wall of Ardress House, National Trust property in Co. Armagh, with ancient apples and fine broad-leaved trees all growing strongly in the rich soil of the area. There are other oaks nearby, but none have the stature of this specimen, standing alone at the field edge. It […]
The Shane’s Castle Giant
Shane’s Castle, Co. Antrim has great oak trees – among the oldest and biggest in Northern Ireland. The greatest of the oaks stands beside the ruins of the previous castle, a fine house on the shore of Lough Neagh, accidentally burnt when it was still a relatively new building. It is a perfect oak in […]