Nominated by Kieran Barry, Llangollen.
The Reclaimers - Limekiln Sycamores - (Acer pseudoplatanus)
I would like to nominate these opportunistic sycamore trees growing within the old limekilns here above the Offa’s Dyke Path at Creigiau Eglwyseg and Trevor Rocks to show how adaptable and resilient nature can be.
From an industrial, man-made construction, these wind-tolerant and hardy trees soften their surroundings by thriving where other species of trees cannot.
Banks of limekilns and individual kilns litter this upland landscape below the Carboniferous limestone outcrops of Creigiau Eglwyseg and Trevor Rocks. The kilns were used to produce industrial and agricultural lime for local iron foundries and ones farther afield.
In the not so distant past, there would have been hundreds of people toiling and working away trying to make a tough living up here for their families.
So, these sycamore trees represent to me the ghosts and shadows of these hard-working folks. They are their legacy if you like.
The sycamore trees provide habitat for many creatures as nature reclaims these once harsh areas of quarries, kilns, screes and limestone rocks that were once hives of industrial activity.
Growing in the limekilns above Offa’s Dyke Path.
