 | | Tuesday 25th November 2003
Ancient tree named as one of the best | |
|  | | The ancient Sweet Chestnut tree in Bewdley |
| | An ancient tree in the grounds of a Worcestershire house has been named as one of the fifty best in the country. |
| | | This mighty tree stands in the grounds of an historic house in Bewdley.
The house was built for the Cartwright family 350 years ago.
The tree itself is even older, perhaps 500 years old, though as it is now hollow it is impossible to age it accurately.
The tree is a Sweet Chestnut, and is remarkable not just for its age but for the way its branches have spread.
As it has grown in an open spot the branches have spread sideways as well as up.
It's a characteristic of the Sweet Chestnut that when given the space it drops its larger branches to the ground.
Listed tree
The tree has a girth of more than 33 feet or 10 metres at it's widest point, and it spreads over a quarter of an acre.
The longest branch stretches 77 feet, or 23 metres, from the trunk.
The tree is so remarkable that it's been named one of the 50 best in England, and is listed to protect it.
The house in whose grounds the tree stands is now a bed and breakfast hotel.
Owner Judith Bullock says anyone is welcome to come and see the tree free of cost, as long as they give them some warning.
"Unfortunately we do get the odd one or two who just decide to stroll up the drive and have a look at the tree.
"Anybody is welcome to come and have a look at the tree, but I would much rather they just knock on the door first and tell us that they're around." | | | |
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