#veteran tree

[vanpeltfoto]

There is a wisdom in things that remain rooted.

They don't promise that everything will be alright.

Only that life has carried on before.

(Photo: d.)

[richwall101]

Ancient Tree

One of several veteran trees, each of which are several hundred years old, seen from the main driveway up to the house at Stourhead Wiltshire with a view across the local landscape in winter 2025

[rherlotshadow]

The god of the woods

[thetreehunter]

The Reclaimers

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.

[dlsan]

Platano, monumental plane tree dated back to 1370 - © 2019 - Matteo M. Santoni Technika Schneider 1:8 90mm - Fomapan 100, 10x12 website • flickr • dlsan • instagram

[rherlotshadow]

Spiral Oak II: looking up into the tree.

Savernake Forest

[rherlotshadow]

Veteran oak tree, centuries old. Gloucestershire.

[rherlotshadow]

Oak tree in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire