#offas dyke

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.

The Duelling Oak, Castle Mill, Chirk, Wrexham - Nominated by Mark Williams

This magnificent ancient oak tree grows at Castle Mill a few hundred metres below the National Trust’s Chirk Castle - a  13th century Marcher fortress.

The 600-year-old, 7.24-metre girth oak pollard grows adjacent to the forgotten medieval track that winds its way down from the castle.

Legend has it that honour disputes were settled under its boughs by pistol duels.

Source:Wikipedia: A Duel -  is an arranged engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon rules.

The duel was based on a code of honour. Duels were fought not so much to kill the opponent as to gain "satisfaction", that is, to restore one's honour by demonstrating a willingness to risk one's life for it, and as such the tradition of dueling was originally reserved for the male members of nobility; however, in the modern era, it extended to those of the upper classes generally.

Many visitors that have walked by the oak along the permissive, summer only, Offa’s Dyke Path which passes this great oak have reported seeing faces and various creatures in its gnarly, moss covered old trunk. Please do take a look and see just what you can find.

It is recorded onto the Ancient Tree Inventory as Tree No. 372

Well-known TV presenter Julia Bradbury helped to measure the tree when she visited to film an episode of BBC Countryfile in 2011.

The Battle of Crogen 1165 interpretation Panels are nearby.

Can you see the faces?

Everything hurts, there’s a massive hill to climb, and everyone is dropping out. Should I press on with the super fast people, or relax in the town of books?

A beautiful and more relaxed walk in the sunshine to recover from the brutal walk yesterday. Rolling hills and walking in fields, losing the signpost and rapping while walking.