The Oldest Tree in Europe?

Is the Preen Yew Tree in Shropshire the oldest tree in Europe? Well, yes according to the sign which stands beneath it. Whether this statement is true or not the tree is certainly a majestic sight. For over 1500 years it has stood surveying the scene, and who knows what sights it has seen and what secrets it could reveal.

 Measured in 1945 its girth came in at 21 feet and 10 inches at the five foot high mark. (6.6 metres and 1.5 metres respectively for those of you who deal in new money.) 

 

 The tree stands in the churchyard adjacent to Preen Manor, which was the site in 1150 of a small cell attached to the Cluniac Priory of Much Wenlock, a few miles away as the raven flies. (There were many croaking about as I snapped away at this amazing tree.)

 

 Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx

Two Nights in Borth

Borth is a coastal village 7 miles north of Aberystwyth in the Mid Wales county of Ceredigion and about 70 miles from land-locked Shropshire. Definitely a fair weather port of call, but if the weather is clement it is a pleasant place. 

Borth by the sea

We, as a family, when the children were small, enjoyed holidays there over the years. Researching Borth’s ‘things to do’ I found the grand total of four! The Station Museum, The Golf Club, The Animalarium and the Ynyslas Nature Reserve, which I assume is better known to us as the Sand Dunes. On my visits I have seen the animals, trudged through the dunes, totally missed the Museum and as for golf… Bah! Humbug! Not a place to visit if you want oodles of excitement!

Last year my favourite campsite was devastated by the summer floods.

Borth is predominantly seaside with ample camping and caravan sites. Last week found my Long Term Attachment and me pitching our tent near the coast. After turning down the offer of two nights camping at a cost of £59, the receptionist’s excuse for charging this extortionate amount was ‘we’re a big company’, our next stop was a family run site for £15 a night. More like it!! £59!! We wanted to camp for two nights not buy the site!! Within minutes of setting up there was a red kite drifting lazily overhead, swallows skimming the meadow frantically mopping up insects and screeching gulls competing for a suitable perch. And then, as it tends to do in Borth, it rained…and kept on raining…

Red Kite

Between storms we ambled briefly on the beach, walked down to the nearby cove and dried our clothing! Typical Borth!

Homeward bound

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone (by the sea) xx     

Silaging on St Swithun's Day...

Silaging was in full swing on the neighbouring farm yesterday. Huge tractors towing equally huge silage trailers hurtled along our narrow country lanes. This vital work, providing the animals with winter fodder, is usually carried out by contracting firms who move their fleet of machinery from one farm to the next as long as the grass continues to grow.

After rolling the grass, the ‘pit’ or ‘clamp’ is then covered with sheeting and secured down with redundant tyres.

Hope the brakes are good...

Silage making appears to be a science. All I can say is, after residing in the country all my life, I can tell whether it’s good or not by the smell of the finished product and its effluent!

Days of yore...

The weather was kind, even though it was St Swithun’s/Swithin’s day.

St Swithun/Swithin was a Bishop of Winchester born around the year 800. On his death he was buried outside where he could be walked and rained upon, as was his wish.

In 971 his body was moved inside the Cathedral and as you might imagine he was a bit mad. As the lightning flashed and the thunder roared it started to rain…and rain…

If it rains on the 15^th July, St Swithun’s/Swithin’s day it will rain for 40 days.

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx

   

The Homing Toad...

I suffer from lots of phobias, you name it, I’ve probably got the phobia, as opposed to the t-shirt.

Bufonophobia definitely holds the top spot or wart! Fear of toads is closely followed by ranidaphobia, fear of frogs.

Warts an' all...

As a phobia is described as an irrational fear of something there isn’t a lot I can do about it other than being shut (against my will) in a room full of frogs and toads for therapy and emerging some time later a jibbering wreck. (No change there then, I hear people who know me utter.)

This Bufonophobic state is not helped by the fact that Mr Toad insists on living in the upturned metal mop-bucket (yes, I’m still living in the age of steam) over the outside drain.

He, or his ancestor, resided there last year. How long do toads live? At least it gives me a good excuse not to mop the floor.

Last year I even plucked up courage to take the said toad in the said mop-bucket, held at arms-length on the broom handle, down to the brook (just hope no-one saw me!), and guess what, by night he was ambling back through the gate. A homing toad no less!

I have discovered that frogs hop and toads sort of lollop. *shudder*

Having said all that, I don’t wish any of them any harm, I just wish they felt the same about me!

I recently needed the mop-bucket and had to ask my Long Term Attachment (he does come in useful sometimes) to remove Mr Toad. He placed him gently him in a plastic bucket in the shade and replaced him to his chosen abode later.

Is it the same one...?

 I have just researched the longevity of toads and found that a 40 year lifespan is average if they don’t get eaten by snakes or hedgehogs. Now hedgehogs I like…snakes…ophidiophobia…

Thanks for your time.

  

The Old Country Crone xx

     

Great Spotted Woodpecker...

I am super fortunate to have woodpeckers visiting my garden. It is the second year running we have been lucky enough to have a juvenile visiting the peanut holder.

Woody Junior...2013

Cheeky Chappie 2012

The Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major is apparently common in Britain but that doesn’t detract from my pleasure at seeing them in my garden.

Beautiful markings...

 I usually hear them arriving by their sharp ‘chip chip’ call. Often in the day they can be seen flying between the numerous surrounding trees easily recognisable by their undulating flight, often accompanied by the aforesaid ‘chipping’.

Woodpecker feathers dropped last year...

 Luckily for me this species is easily identifiable. The male has a red mark on the back of its neck (the female doesn’t) and the young have a red cap.

At other times of the year I hear them drumming on the nearby trees.

Beautiful and amazing.

Thanks for your time.

The Old Country Crone xx