Sussex tree amazes experts (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Sussex tree amazes experts
10:30am Wednesday 21st December 2011 in News
The ancient yew at Wakehurst dates back to the era of the Black Death – picture by Andrew McRobb
A 600-year-old tree has amazed experts at Wakehurst Place, the Sussex country estate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and shed new light on the gardens’ past.
The great age and significance of the yew tree – which dates back to the time of the Black Death – was discovered during research on the history of the gardens at Ardingly, near Haywards Heath.
The discovery was made during research for the estate’s conservation management plan, which will shape the future of Wakehurst for hundreds of years to come.
Until the last few weeks, horticulturists had no idea the yew was so old and its age indicates there was a relatively large landscaped garden at Wakehurst as early as 1391 – far earlier than previously thought.
Andy Jackson, the head of Wakehurst, said: “I am shocked and amazed.
“I thought I knew almost all there was to know about Wakehurst’s landscape, but it has unveiled a new layer to me.
"I’ve walked past this remarkably humble tree almost every day without realising just how old it is.
“The yew is like an ancient key, unlocking information about the past and suggesting there was a much older designed landscape at Wakehurst that we didn’t know was there.”
The tree, which has a girth of 20 feet, stands in front of the 16th century Wakehurst mansion.
An archaeological dig last year revealed that a 14th century house had originally stood close to the site of the mansion and further research was carried out after a specialist landscape architect identified a significant line of old yews.
Add us to your circles on Google+
Comments(2)
Daggoo
says...
5:42pm Wed 21 Dec 11
This comes to mind..
Oh you, Ewe.
There grazing on the fresh grass,
Dewed before dawn.
And I see your reflection on the ewer,
As I pour from it sweetened liquid.
Remembering your youthfulness,
As I enjoy the mutton stew.
And the chops I seasoned.
One day to be thawed and equally enjoyed.
Oh you,
Ewe.
So tasteful are you too when pied!
Daggoo says...
5:39pm Wed 21 Dec 11
Nay, Traveller! rest. This lonely Yew-tree stands
Far from all human dwelling: what if here
No sparkling rivulet spread the verdant herb?
What if the bee love not these barren boughs?
Yet, if the wind breathe soft, the curling waves,
That break against the shore, shall lull thy mind
By one soft impulse saved from vacancy.
-- Who he was
That piled these stones and with the mossy sod
First covered, and here taught this aged Tree
With its dark arms to form a circling bower,
I well remember. -- He was one who owned
No common soul. In youth by science nursed,
And led by nature into a wild scene
Of lofty hopes, he to the world went forth
A favoured Being, knowing no desire
Which genius did not hallow; 'gainst the taint
Of dissolute tongues, and jealousy, and hate,
And scorn, -- against all enemies prepared,
All but neglect. The world, for so it thought,
Owed him no service; wherefore he at once
With indignation turned himself away,
And with the food of pride sustained his soul
In solitude. -- Stranger! these gloomy boughs
Had charms for him; and here he loved to sit,
His only visitants a straggling sheep,
The stone-chat, or the glancing sand-piper:
And on these barren rocks, with fern and heath,
And juniper and thistle, sprinkled o'er,
Fixing his downcast eye, he many an hour
A morbid pleasure nourished, tracing here
An emblem of his own unfruitful life:
And, lifting up his head, he then would gaze
On the more distant scene, -- how lovely 'tis
Thou seest, -- and he would gaze till it became
Far lovelier, and his heart could not sustain
The beauty, still more beauteous! Nor, that time,
When nature had subdued him to herself,
Would he forget those Beings to whose minds,
Warm from the labours of benevolence,
The world, and human life, appeared a scene
Of kindred loveliness: then he would sigh,
Inly disturbed, to think that others felt
What he must never feel: and so, lost Man!
On visionary views would fancy feed,
Till his eye streamed with tears. In this deep vale
He died, -- this seat his only monument.
If Thou be one whose heart the holy forms
Of young imagination have kept pure,
Stranger! henceforth be warned; and know that pride,
Howe'er disguised in its own majesty,
Is littleness; that he, who feels contempt
For any living thing, hath faculties
Which he has never used; that thought with him
Is in its infancy. The man whose eye
Is ever on himself doth look on one,
The least of Nature's works, one who might move
The wise man to that scorn which wisdom holds,
Constable of Sussex would thou that you were not as thick,
as a clay baked, kiln dried, oven brick,
Unlawful, ever. O be wiser, Thou!
Instructed that true knowledge leads to love;
True dignity abides with him alone
Who, in the silent hour of inward thought,
Can still suspect, and still revere himself
In lowliness of heart,
I doubt in future if thou Sussex person shalt know,
Of a parasitic plant in Orchards called the mistletoe,
You cannot help but want to recite this when the word Yew is spoken