@treepilgrim

On an ancient tree pilgrimage from Land's End to John O'Groats. I have used the ancient tree inventory to plan my route. Part 1 1032miles in 2023 TBC

 On pilgrimage
Joined February 2022
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Route is planned for Lands' End to John O'Groats, 4 months of pilgrimage to ancient and veteran trees the length of mainland Britain. Starting mid- April. Excited, and a little nervous!
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Beautiful pilgrimage!
Charlotte Strawbridge
@DearUniverse_cs20 Jul 2023
Day Forty-one Santiago de Compostela #Camino #CaminoDeSantiago Did it. ☺️
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Day 50/1 Gloucester to Shurdington, 12.6 miles. First visit is to some veteran oaks on a new housing development. I fear the worst, but I'm pleasantly surprised and heartened. They have actually been given the respect & space they require with strong boundary fences and hedges.
A photo of a veteran oak tree in an area of mown grass, surrounded by a thick, head-high hedge. There are new build houses in the background. There is a semi-mature oak tree just to the left side slightly in front, and a path winds sinuously on the right hand side. The sky is blue with streaks of high clouds.

ALT A photo of a veteran oak tree in an area of mown grass, surrounded by a thick, head-high hedge. There are new build houses in the background. There is a semi-mature oak tree just to the left side slightly in front, and a path winds sinuously on the right hand side. The sky is blue with streaks of high clouds.

Photo of the dead top of the veteran oak. There is a cavity and it has twists and burrs. There is new growth, and a larger branch, all around.

ALT Photo of the dead top of the veteran oak. There is a cavity and it has twists and burrs. There is new growth, and a larger branch, all around.

A photo of a veteran oak tree in an area of partialy mown grass, and grass left to grow long. The tree is surrounded by a thick, head-high hedge. There are new build houses in the background. There is a semi-mature oak tree just to the left side slightly in front. The sky is blue with streaks of high clouds.

ALT A photo of a veteran oak tree in an area of partialy mown grass, and grass left to grow long. The tree is surrounded by a thick, head-high hedge. There are new build houses in the background. There is a semi-mature oak tree just to the left side slightly in front. The sky is blue with streaks of high clouds.

A photo of a veteran oak tree in an area of mown grass, surrounded by a thick, head-high hedge. There are new build houses in the background. The sky is blue with streaks of high clouds.

ALT A photo of a veteran oak tree in an area of mown grass, surrounded by a thick, head-high hedge. There are new build houses in the background. The sky is blue with streaks of high clouds.

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Day 50/13 Another ancient ash along this boundary is my last planned visit of the day. Not a long distance day by any means, but a visit to 72 trees on the ancient tree inventory over nearly 10 hours of walking. #treepilgrim #treepilgrimage #ancienttree #ancienttreepilgrimage
A photo of an ancient ash pollard. The sun is low in the sky and shining through the canopy. The base of the stem is wide and spreading. There is a post and wire fence behind the tree and woodland plants in the foreground.

ALT A photo of an ancient ash pollard. The sun is low in the sky and shining through the canopy. The base of the stem is wide and spreading. There is a post and wire fence behind the tree and woodland plants in the foreground.

A photo of me in front of the ash pollard.

ALT A photo of me in front of the ash pollard.

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Day 50/14 As I walk on to my campsite, the sun just sets, I come across 2 beech trees that are not on the ancient tree inventory. I quickly measure them before it gets too dark and add them. They are some of my favorites of the day and a real treat to finish a day full of trees.
A photo of a veteran beech tree. On the right hand side there is the stub of a broken branch. There is moss and ivy on the buttress roots.

ALT A photo of a veteran beech tree. On the right hand side there is the stub of a broken branch. There is moss and ivy on the buttress roots.

A photo of a veteran beech tree on the edge of a Woodland. There is moss and ivy on the buttress roots.

ALT A photo of a veteran beech tree on the edge of a Woodland. There is moss and ivy on the buttress roots.

A photo of me sitting on the buttress root of a veteran beech tree. On the right hand side there is the stub of a broken branch. There is moss and ivy on the buttress roots.

ALT A photo of me sitting on the buttress root of a veteran beech tree. On the right hand side there is the stub of a broken branch. There is moss and ivy on the buttress roots.

Photo of me sitting at the base of a veteran beach tree on the edge of a Woodland.

ALT Photo of me sitting at the base of a veteran beach tree on the edge of a Woodland.

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I am being picked up tomorrow lunchtime as I have been invited to speak at a @WoodlandTrust organised event, chaired by the BBC’s Adam Shaw @AdamShawBiz, in Shrewsbury tomorrow evening (Friday 14th July) with @thetreehunter and @Adele_R_B I will then be dropped back to where I left off over the weekend to continue my pilgrimage. I'll be speaking about my pilgrimage, and how it has been going, and how it is evolving. Tickets for the event are free, and there are some still avaliable. Email to [email protected] to book tickets. It is at Morris Hall, Shrewsbury SY1 1JB Friday 14 July, 7-9pm. Doors open at 6.30pm. – at Shrewsbury, England
A screenshot of the top of a page from the Woodland Trust website. Title is 'An evening with ancient trees'. With following text, 'Our campaign team is joined by 3 experts Martin Hugi and Rob McBride as well as the BBC's Adam Shaw to explore the importance of ancient trees in the UK. Then at the bottom,' Morris Hall Shrewsbury Friday the 14th of July 2023.'

ALT A screenshot of the top of a page from the Woodland Trust website. Title is 'An evening with ancient trees'. With following text, 'Our campaign team is joined by 3 experts Martin Hugi and Rob McBride as well as the BBC's Adam Shaw to explore the importance of ancient trees in the UK. Then at the bottom,' Morris Hall Shrewsbury Friday the 14th of July 2023.'

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Day 49/1 - Edge to Gloucester, 14.0 miles. My 1st pilgrimage is to a beech, 8.8m girth, in a hedgerow aside a road. The notes on the ancient tree inventory tell me a major part came off in high winds. I find it's been dead for many years 🙁 But it's still is a valuable ecosystem.
A photo of a large dead beech tree. It's almost all completely covered in ivy and bramble. There are many dead branches sticking out from the top.

ALT A photo of a large dead beech tree. It's almost all completely covered in ivy and bramble. There are many dead branches sticking out from the top.

A photo of me standing in front of large dead beech tree. A lot of the trees covered in ivy. There is a large Ganoderma fungal bracket on the dead stem.

ALT A photo of me standing in front of large dead beech tree. A lot of the trees covered in ivy. There is a large Ganoderma fungal bracket on the dead stem.

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49/9 It's been a long hot day. I find solace & shade under a welcoming yew in a peaceful churchyard. Of all the many trees that I have met today, this is one of my favourites. It's simple form & understated elegance make for a quite mind & I just rest a while, there's no rush.
A photo of the stem of a yew tree in a churchyard. There are gravestones all around and a church in the background.

ALT A photo of the stem of a yew tree in a churchyard. There are gravestones all around and a church in the background.

A photo of me sitting with my back on the stem of a yew tree. There are gravestones and other trees in the background.

ALT A photo of me sitting with my back on the stem of a yew tree. There are gravestones and other trees in the background.

A photo of a Yew Tree in a church yard there are gravestones on all sides and a path running across the foreground. There is a church in the background.

ALT A photo of a Yew Tree in a church yard there are gravestones on all sides and a path running across the foreground. There is a church in the background.

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Day 49/10 Finally, I head up the @WoodlandTrust 's Nut Hill to enjoy the sunset over Gloucester, & looking towards the Black Mountains & Brecon Beacons where I am heading. #treepilgrim #ancienttree #ancienttreepilgrimage #ancienttreeinventory #livinglegends #pilgrimage #lejog
A photo taken from the top of a hill looking out over a city. There are mountains on the horizon where the sky is blending into the earth in shades of yellow, orange, pink, purple and greys. There are mature conifer trees on the left and right and a grassy hill extending down in the foreground.

ALT A photo taken from the top of a hill looking out over a city. There are mountains on the horizon where the sky is blending into the earth in shades of yellow, orange, pink, purple and greys. There are mature conifer trees on the left and right and a grassy hill extending down in the foreground.

A photo of the sun setting low over distant mountains through a gap in the trees growing on top of a hill in the foreground.

ALT A photo of the sun setting low over distant mountains through a gap in the trees growing on top of a hill in the foreground.

A photo of the sun setting low over distant mountains through a gap in the trees growing on top of a hill in the foreground.

ALT A photo of the sun setting low over distant mountains through a gap in the trees growing on top of a hill in the foreground.

A photo of the sun setting low over distant mountains through a gap in the trees growing on top of a hill in the foreground.

ALT A photo of the sun setting low over distant mountains through a gap in the trees growing on top of a hill in the foreground.

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When I need a pep talk, like I did ahead of #TheFeatherSpeech debate tomorrow, I pay a visit to the old wise oaks. Not far from this one is the oldest oak (1048 years old).
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49/8 Then on to an ancient oak in a field about 100 meters from the M5. It's an imposing tree with "wow" factor. The roots spread wide like a huge foot, but in all directions making a wonderful seat. Before I go I remeasure it at 8.35m girth, up from 7.89m in 2009. #treepilgrim
Photo of me sitting on the roots of a ancient oak tree.

ALT Photo of me sitting on the roots of a ancient oak tree.

A photo of an ancient oak tree in a grassy field. The sun is low in the sky and shining through the middle of the canopy

ALT A photo of an ancient oak tree in a grassy field. The sun is low in the sky and shining through the middle of the canopy

A photo of an ancient oak tree the stem is thick and the branches extend all around out wide.

ALT A photo of an ancient oak tree the stem is thick and the branches extend all around out wide.

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49/9 It's been a long hot day. I find solace & shade under a welcoming yew in a peaceful churchyard. Of all the many trees that I have met today, this is one of my favourites. It's simple form & understated elegance make for a quite mind & I just rest a while, there's no rush.
A photo of the stem of a yew tree in a churchyard. There are gravestones all around and a church in the background.

ALT A photo of the stem of a yew tree in a churchyard. There are gravestones all around and a church in the background.

A photo of me sitting with my back on the stem of a yew tree. There are gravestones and other trees in the background.

ALT A photo of me sitting with my back on the stem of a yew tree. There are gravestones and other trees in the background.

A photo of a Yew Tree in a church yard there are gravestones on all sides and a path running across the foreground. There is a church in the background.

ALT A photo of a Yew Tree in a church yard there are gravestones on all sides and a path running across the foreground. There is a church in the background.

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