Trees
This is a gazetteer of the important and powerful trees that we have visited on our travels. I hope you may find the time to pay them a visit to see what you can learn from them too. More will be added as and when I encounter them.
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BIRCHES (associated with ‘Bard’ learning stage)
1.Birchen Edge
Through the birch tree canopy
Location: All over the ridge along Birchen Edge, near Bakewell in Derbyshire, England. If you approach from the Robin Hood path then you will encounter the special triple-trunked birch tree at the foot of the ridge just as the path splits in two, and one path goes up the ridge to the top.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related posts:
- Arbor Low and Birchen Edge near Bakewell, Derbyshire
- Birchen Edge 2: Ring cairns and yin/yang energies
2.Delamere Forest’s Bent-Over Birch
Bent Over Birch
Location: In the eastern Hart Hill side of Delamere Forest, near Delamere in Cheshire, England. Park just at the edge of Hatchmere village (after Blakemere Moss) and then find the last small dark path that heads east into the forest. The birch can be found by following the stream (on your left) a few hundred yards down the path as it begins to open up and round a long sweeping left-hand corner.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related posts:
- Year’s End In Delamere
- Knowledge From A Forest
- Delamere Forest: In Colour
- Delamere Forest – New Paths and Staffs
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YEWS (associated with ‘Ovate’ learning stage)
1. The Llangernyw Yew
The Oldest Tree in Wales
A 4000-5000 year old yew tree whose energies are the source of all the good, pleasant and passifying feelings that pervade the surrounding church and graveyard.
Location: Llangernyw village churchyard, North Wales.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related posts:
- Llangernyw: Warnings and Weirdness
- Llangernyw: The Oldest Yew In Wales
- The Llangernyw Dream Seat
- 4000 Year Old Wisdom
- Autumn Equinox 2 : Llangernyw Yew
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OAKS (associated with ‘Druid’ learning stage)
1. Gog and Magog
Location: Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, Somerset, Southern England. Down the hill on Paradise Lane near to Glastonbury Tor. Approach from White Spring. Walk past the Tor heading down the lane that continues on (don’t go right around the Tor). Head down the hill on Stone Down Lane towards Norwood Park Farm, and past a stile on the right near the bottom of the steepest part of the lane. Then, a few hundred yards further on the left is another stile next to a gate. Go over this stile along a track for about two hundred yards towards Wick Farm (and camp site). The trees are behind a hedge (which has an entry stile) just after a fork in the ways, and within sight of the back of the Tor.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related posts:
2. West Kennet Guardian Tree
This tall and resplendant oak tree stands on its own at the edge of a hedged field, at the foot of the hill, just before the hill opens out into cultivated farmland on the approach to West Kennet Long Barrow. It is adorned with robbons, bows, trinkets and baubles from admiring and respectful modern pagans. It has a sweet disposition and is very approachable. It will also be able to inform you as to whether you ought to visit the Long Barrow. Please be aware, if it says you should not then it is wise to adhere to this advice.
West Kennet Guardian Tree
Location: On the approach to West Kennet Long Barrow, Wiltshire, Southern England.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related posts:
- Guerrilla dowsing on Silbury Hill
- West Kennet: undergroing the transformation process
- West Kennet: Decoded and Orbed
3. The Wishing Tree Oak
Kal and I have had many encounters with this special tree. It is one of our favourites. It took a while to overcome its inherent distrust of us, and for us to see past its grumpiness, but once that ice is broken this tree is rather wonderful to know. It is constantly festooned in adornments of all types, from ribbons to special dedicatory notes and more. People seem to want to leave something here for this tree, and I suspect it sees a lot of visitors. Please take the time to get to know it if you pass that way. It’s got a good sense of humour once it gets going.
View from the Wishing Tree to the circle
Location: Next to the Nine Ladies stone circle, Stanton Moor, Debyshire, Northern England.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related posts:
- Samhain – transformational energies of the elements
- Nine Ladies Stone Circle: Dancing In The Dark – Part 3
- Nine Ladies Stone Circle, Derbyshire – July 29th 2008
4. The Pontfadog and Crogen Oaks
This sessile oak is estimated to be 1500 years old, as as such is the oldest oak tree in Wales. It has a huge girth and appears to be leaning towards the farmhouse below it, so who knows how much longer it will be allowed to remain standing? Its alternate name is “The Oak At The Gate of the Dead”. You are advised not the enter inside it as it is in poor condition.
Pontfadog Oak
Location: The Pontfadog Oak is located in the yard of a farm just above the village of Pontfadog (B4500 from Chirk, Wales). To get to it follow the small road up past the village pub, the Swan Inn, then take the first left – a narrow hedged road lined with the occasional old oak tree. When you reach a farm entrance on the right-hand side, walk along their entrance path until you reach the square yard next to the farmhouse. The oak is at the back of the yard in front of you.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related Posts:
The Crogen Oak (know properly as “The Oak at the Gate of the Dead”) is now split in two. One half of it lies on the marshy damp forest floor whilst the other half remains defiant. A harsh winter frost caused the split. In the same small wooded area around the tree can be found several other old oaks of substantial size and girth. Sadly, this oak is now energetically dead, although it retains a small amount of biological life.
The local council have recently erected some information signs about how the oak came to be so named, and this celebrates a Welsh battle victory on this site.
The split Crogen Oak
Location: The Oak at the Gate of the Dead is located at the side of the B4500 just before the village of Pontfadog, near the town of Chirk. It is 200 yards beyond the Trout Fishery and Shop at the edge of the village. There is a path leading above it accessible from the road. Be prepared, as it stands in muddy ground next to a small stream.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related Posts:
5. The Major Oak
This tree is famous throughout England as being one of the oldest trees in the land – certainly one of the oldest oak trees that we know of that has survived the ravages of time. It is in amazing shape considering its age, and clearly great care has been taken to preserve its form and bear its weight so that it doesn’t topple in the storms.
From an energetic point of view it is, however, pretty dormant. There are no spirits living in the tree, and instead the tree seems to have become a portal or repository for the admiration and renown energies that are directed towards it, which it takes and disperses throughout the remaining forest area. Despite this lack of sentience, the tree is a wonder to behold and well worth a visit.
The Major Oak, Sherwood Forest, Nottingham
Location: Signposted from the Visitor Centre in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England.
Map: Click for Bing map
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OTHER TYPES OF TREE
1. The Tallest Douglas Fir Tree in Wales
Location: Alongside the Old Village Car Park, north shore of Lake Vyrnwy, Llanwyddn, Powys, North Wales.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related Posts: None. Here’s a link to a web site about the trees.
NEWS: Sadly, this particular tree has been felled! Here’s a link to information about this felling, and how steps are being taken to change the law to protect trees like this in future. [ENTS]
2. The Lonely Rowan Tree
Pendle Hill rowan
Location: Closest village is Barley near Nelson in Lancashire. On the Pendle Hill Circular Walks path, half way up the hill going through Boar Clough you can find the tree on its own – the last tree you will see before the peak.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related Posts:
3. A Decorated Hawthorn Tree
We were slightly in awe of the amont of ribbons attached to this tree. I’d love to go back and try to get a clear photograph of it because all the ones I took (about four of them) all came out blurred! Very peculiar. The aura of this tree was also quite strong, and it gives off good vibes. I think it likes all the attention.
UPDATE: I re-visited the site of Long Meg in May 2011 and this tree has been cut down! Such a shame. I felt very sad, and said a late farewell to the spirit of the trees, wherever it had gone to now. There was a silent absence at the site.
Hawthorn Wishing Tree at Long Meg
Location: At the entrance to the Long Meg and Her Daughters stone circle, near Glassonby and Little Salkeld villages, Cumbria, Northern England.
Map: Click for Bing map
Related Posts:
- An old and powerful apple tree
- May Tree at Tara
Related posts: Hill of Tara – Part 1 – Retrieving the Earth Spirit
