Not far away is another house associated with John Wesley, with very special trees. Chrome Hill was originally owned by the Wolfenden family who came to Lambeg from Brunswick in 1603, founding mills and living in what was then named Harmony Hill. The house and mills were sold in 1815 to Mr Richard Nevin who […]
People's Trees
Some trees are champions in their own right, some are famous by association with a person or an event, some may have both distinctions. Royalty and foresters, preachers and gardeners may all be remembered by special trees.
Robinson’s Gold
Among the variants of garden cypresses, this one is golden. In 1962 it was discovered growing in Belvoir Park Forest on the edge of Belfast by the forester, the late George Robinson, who transplanted the little seedling into a flower pot and then to his own garden. It grew, flourished, and like other cypress could […]
King James’s Sweet Chestnut
Across Belfast Lough on the southern shore hotel in leafy Cultra, is a sweet chestnut traditionally associated with King James, although he may never have visited it. The tree is in a private garden which was once part of the grounds of a single large house, before being developed for smaller houses. In this case, […]
Belfats’s Oldest Chestnuts
Cranmore, Belfast, is the site of some of the oldest chestnuts – sweet or Spanish chestnut Castanea sativa. They are just off the Malone Road next to school playing fields owned by the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst). The school was founded on the inspiration of a Belfast man, John Templeton, who is perhaps better […]
King Williams’ Chestnut
The link between King William and sweet chestnut is strongest at Scarva House in County Down. In front stands a magnificent sweet chestnut, larger than the Cranmore trees and slightly younger. The story is that when King William stayed here his horse put a foot on the young tree (suggesting that it was newly planted […]
The Wesley Yew
This yew Taxus baccata europeaus is beside a delightful small historic house on the outskirts of Derriaghy. The original entrance steps and pillars lead into the front garden, and beside them is the Wesley yew. It can be seen without entering this private garden. It is known that John Wesley preached here on 16th June […]