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| Ash dieback reaches Cumbria - a county where the tree plays a special part in history and folklore | Ash dieback reaches Cumbria - a county where the tree plays a special part in history and folklore |
| (5 months later) | |
| The first case of ash dieback disease has been recorded in Cumbria - and with a cruel twist of fate it has been found in Aspatria, a town whose name means 'Ash tree of Patrick'. It was here that, according to legend, the saint struck his staff into the ground and it sprouted into an ash tree. | The first case of ash dieback disease has been recorded in Cumbria - and with a cruel twist of fate it has been found in Aspatria, a town whose name means 'Ash tree of Patrick'. It was here that, according to legend, the saint struck his staff into the ground and it sprouted into an ash tree. |
| The original ash tree may have long gone but St Patrick's holy well can still be found at the rear of the town's St Kentigern's church. It does not have the charm of St Cuthbert's well in Wetheral or the holy well beside St John in the Vale, near Keswick but the stone structure around the well still remains. Our relationship with both trees and sources of water have sadly diminished over the centuries. How many people today could even identify an ash tree yet alone tell you anything about its properties? | The original ash tree may have long gone but St Patrick's holy well can still be found at the rear of the town's St Kentigern's church. It does not have the charm of St Cuthbert's well in Wetheral or the holy well beside St John in the Vale, near Keswick but the stone structure around the well still remains. Our relationship with both trees and sources of water have sadly diminished over the centuries. How many people today could even identify an ash tree yet alone tell you anything about its properties? |
| Ash trees may not have the rich tradition and folklore associated with them as say oak or rowan but Cumbrians of old (before 1974 the region was split between Westmorland and Cumberland) clearly respected ash along with all other trees. For more than two centuries ash trees stood beside Carlisle castle having been planted, it is said, by Mary Queen of Scots during her stay there. She had arrived at Workington in May 1568 having lost the Battle of Langside and was subsequently taken into protective custody at the castle. One of the trees was said in 1804 to be the largest in Cumberland. The authorities decided to chop them down for reasons unknown - much to the anger of local folk. | Ash trees may not have the rich tradition and folklore associated with them as say oak or rowan but Cumbrians of old (before 1974 the region was split between Westmorland and Cumberland) clearly respected ash along with all other trees. For more than two centuries ash trees stood beside Carlisle castle having been planted, it is said, by Mary Queen of Scots during her stay there. She had arrived at Workington in May 1568 having lost the Battle of Langside and was subsequently taken into protective custody at the castle. One of the trees was said in 1804 to be the largest in Cumberland. The authorities decided to chop them down for reasons unknown - much to the anger of local folk. |
| To the east of the county is Brough - formerly in Westmorland - which had a delightful twelfth night tradition involving an ash tree. It was known as Holly Night but holly became so scarce in this part of the world that the local population opted instead to use ash. An ash tree dressed with burning torches would be processed into the town before being thrown into the cheering crowd. The villagers would then divide into two groups, according to which of the two inns they frequented, and a fight along the lines of Workington's still-continuing Uppies and Downies football match would ensue. Whichever team was successful in bringing the ash tree back to their pub was liberally rewarded with drink and food. | To the east of the county is Brough - formerly in Westmorland - which had a delightful twelfth night tradition involving an ash tree. It was known as Holly Night but holly became so scarce in this part of the world that the local population opted instead to use ash. An ash tree dressed with burning torches would be processed into the town before being thrown into the cheering crowd. The villagers would then divide into two groups, according to which of the two inns they frequented, and a fight along the lines of Workington's still-continuing Uppies and Downies football match would ensue. Whichever team was successful in bringing the ash tree back to their pub was liberally rewarded with drink and food. |
| For Cumbrians living in either Shap or Bampton, there has been in living memory an ash tree with a most curious if rather frightening tradition. The tree existed at a remote spot on the road between the two villages but was cut down by the county council in the 1950s who declared it overgrown and dangerous. It was known as Janet Tree or Jennet Tree and in it lived a witch by that name - a witch who, for reasons unknown, sat in the branches doing her knitting! Some say it was the ghost of the witch who had been hanged from that tree many centuries before. Scary stories were no doubt told to children who might decide to dither along that road rather than hurry home. But the most famous tale is told in a dialect poem about a poacher walking his dog by the tree. He saw the witch in the tree and wished her a good evening but got no reply. He shouted louder: "It's a fine neet missus." And at that she vanished before his eyes. On returning to Shap he told of his encounter but declared "Ah wasn't flay't, but t' dog wadn't run any mair." | For Cumbrians living in either Shap or Bampton, there has been in living memory an ash tree with a most curious if rather frightening tradition. The tree existed at a remote spot on the road between the two villages but was cut down by the county council in the 1950s who declared it overgrown and dangerous. It was known as Janet Tree or Jennet Tree and in it lived a witch by that name - a witch who, for reasons unknown, sat in the branches doing her knitting! Some say it was the ghost of the witch who had been hanged from that tree many centuries before. Scary stories were no doubt told to children who might decide to dither along that road rather than hurry home. But the most famous tale is told in a dialect poem about a poacher walking his dog by the tree. He saw the witch in the tree and wished her a good evening but got no reply. He shouted louder: "It's a fine neet missus." And at that she vanished before his eyes. On returning to Shap he told of his encounter but declared "Ah wasn't flay't, but t' dog wadn't run any mair." |
| Rowan - also known as mountain ash - is particularly rich in tradition in Cumbria. It was known as a protector against evil and in Whitehaven even in the late 19th century, bundles of it would be tied to people's front doors around Halloween. Magic wands were made by taking a stick of rowan and tying some red thread around the end. It was also used in this part of the world to stir milk when making butter so it's magical properties would dissipate any spells or witchcraft. Fortunately, rowan is not part of the ash family and is unaffected by ash dieback. Its alternate name of mountain ash has derived from the leaves looking like those of an ash tree. | Rowan - also known as mountain ash - is particularly rich in tradition in Cumbria. It was known as a protector against evil and in Whitehaven even in the late 19th century, bundles of it would be tied to people's front doors around Halloween. Magic wands were made by taking a stick of rowan and tying some red thread around the end. It was also used in this part of the world to stir milk when making butter so it's magical properties would dissipate any spells or witchcraft. Fortunately, rowan is not part of the ash family and is unaffected by ash dieback. Its alternate name of mountain ash has derived from the leaves looking like those of an ash tree. |
| There are countless more legends associated with particular trees in Cumbria and no doubt most other parts of Britain. Such tales ensured communities developed a healthy respect for the trees in their neighbourhood - and helped educate folk about the difference between ash, rowan, oak and others. It would be a dreadful shame if the county were to lose all its ash trees - the legends surrounding them show just how much they are a part of our history and ethos. | There are countless more legends associated with particular trees in Cumbria and no doubt most other parts of Britain. Such tales ensured communities developed a healthy respect for the trees in their neighbourhood - and helped educate folk about the difference between ash, rowan, oak and others. It would be a dreadful shame if the county were to lose all its ash trees - the legends surrounding them show just how much they are a part of our history and ethos. |
| Alan Cleaver is a freelance journalist and writer based in Whitehaven. | Alan Cleaver is a freelance journalist and writer based in Whitehaven. |
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