There are many reasons to find a tree special – its size, shape, age, setting, history, position in the landscape, association with a building. The solitary tree in front of Landmore House has them all. On the road from Aghadowey to Kilrea, following the course of the mighty Lower Bann River, there is a tree […]
The Drumin Oak
This is the biggest oak in Northern Ireland, one of the largest in Ireland. It is a magnificent towering specimen, large in trunk (25’6”) and branches; even its leaves are especially big. At least two massive branches have already fallen, one the size of an oak tree in itself. Some timber was sawn but proved […]
The Largest Lime
There is no doubt that the mild temperature and plentiful rain of Fermanagh encourages tree growth. The broadest lime award was set to go to Crom Castle estate, but Florencecourt won by a sizeable margin. It is vast. The Florencecourt lime is not far from the main entrance to the house and grounds, in the […]
The Crom Yews
The yews at Crom are probably the oldest trees in Northern Ireland. Lord Erne claims they are 800 years old and he may well be correct. They are inseparable siblings, one brother, one sister, planted together so that now, from the outside, they appear to be one huge dark green mass. Within, branches sweep down […]
An Aussie in Antrim
It is easy to say that the Antrim coast, rocky and windswept, is not good for trees. But turn off the East Antrim coast road and as soon as the glens provide shelter there are wonderful trees and stretches of woodland. Glenarm, Glenariff, are famous for their woods; the roads inland towards Ballymena are lined […]
The Castle Coole Chestnut
Castle Coole is a stately home which belongs to the National Trust, though the current Lord Belmore lives in a modern house in the grounds. Like their noble neighbours at Crom and Florencecourt, his ancestors took a real interest in trees. One tree is a special giant. From the outside, this horse chestnut grows with […]
The Broadest Beech
The eventual winner as biggest beech was this giant at Castle Coole in Co Fermanagh, which measured 21 feet around, but there is always the possibility that yet larger ones may yet be discovered. The Castle Coole beech was pollarded – this form of tree management means that large branches are cut back on a […]
The Giant at Drum
Dramatic champion trees are to be found at Drum Manor Forest park near Cookstown. Drum is a relatively small forest park, meticulously well kept, with lakes, gardens, and a caravan site rated among the top 100 in the UK. It is based on the old Manor House, which only has walls and a tower remaining. […]
The Ever Young Star of Clandeboye
One for the record books is a rather special Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa, the tallest in Northern Ireland. The tree has retained its youthful ‘fastigate’ form. Thomas Packenham, author of ‘Meetings with Remarkable Trees’ has named it Cupressus macrocarpa Clandeboye. Tall, dark, and elegant, this tree, like an ageing film star, has maintained a slim […]
An Elegant Fir at Gosford
The arboretum at Gosford Forest seems somewhat underestimated. It contains some lovely specimen trees, well spaced in a quiet grassy setting without too much formality. The forest also has formal gardens, open parkland, forestry, a collection of poultry, rare breeds such as Soay sheep, and red deer clearly visible in their enclosure. The arboretum champion […]