Nature Watch, with Ron Freethy

RECENTLY I travelled into North Wales around Wrexham.

Only a few years ago Wrexham would not have been on anyone's list as a holiday area but how things have changed.

The tributary streams making up the catchment area of the River Dee are now clean and full of fish including trout and salmon and the old industrial areas are now the focus of heritage centres especially relating to iron making.

What took my attention, however, was the location of ancient trees and this set me thinking if we have any venerable old trees in Lancashire. Can any readers help?

My search for old Welsh trees took me into the Ceiriog Valley near the village of Pontfadog where I found what is reputed to be the oldest oak in Britain and perhaps even in Europe.

Eminent biologists have made tests which prove that the tree was a sapling when the Roman Legions were roaming through Britain.

The tree which has a diameter of 54 feet is hollow in places but some branches are full of succulent leaves and carry a heavy crop of acorns. The old name for the oak was 'Ac' and hence the fruit being called the Acorn. This also gives us the place name of Accrington and Acton in the London area.

In the village of Overton near Wrexham the church is surrounded by numerous yew trees some being very ancient indeed. The scientific name for the yew is Taxus Baccata and very recently a chemical has been extracted from the yew leaves and berries. This has proved successful in the treatment of breast cancer.

Nearby is the majestic Chirk Castle run by the National Trust and this has wonderful old yews in its gardens. These are clipped with the cuttings sold to a company which manufactures the drug.

In time gone by the yew branches had a much more lethal use. The old long bows were made out of yew and when Henry V defeated the French at Agincourt in 1415 some of best bowmen were Welsh and who came from the Borderlands between England and Wales.

Some yew was used for furniture while oak was used to make timber framed houses. I found a wonderful example of a recently restored timber framed house at Althrey Hall near the racecourse at Bangor-on-Dee.

The Wrexham area now deserves to be on the tourist trail and more details can be obtained from the brochure produced on the Borderlands. The telephone number is 01978 292010 or fax 01978 292445.

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