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Pontfadog Oak: 1,200-year-old tree toppled by winds | Pontfadog Oak: 1,200-year-old tree toppled by winds |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A 1,200-year-old tree reputed to be the oldest and one of the largest in the UK, has been toppled by strong winds. | |
It is understood the Pontfadog Oak, which has been growing near Chirk in Wrexham since the year 802, was felled by gusts of around 59mph overnight on Wednesday. | |
The famous sessile oak tree had a girth of 42ft 5in (12.9m). | The famous sessile oak tree had a girth of 42ft 5in (12.9m). |
Legend has it that Welsh princes used to rally troops at the tree. | |
The oak - which had a huge hollow trunk said to big enough to seat six people at a table - had become a local attraction for walkers and visitors in recent years. | |
Rob McBride, a tree hunter who measures and logs trees, said it was rare for an oak tree to live to such an age, with most usually lasting for around 900 years. | |
"The tree was one of the biggest and oldest oak trees on the planet," said Mr McBride, who lives close to the Pontfadog Oak | |
"It has a very significant history and until about 200 years ago was a tree that was pollarded - with branches and leaves regularly cut to feed animals and build fencing." | |
He added that villagers had gathered after hearing about the tree, adding "it's quite like a wake". | |
Mr McBride said he had been campaigning for ancient trees like the Pontfadog Oak to be given a protected status like castles. | |
"If it had had a few thousand pounds spent on some supporting work, it may well have stayed upright," he added. | |
'Almighty crash' | |
The tree is believed to have been a rallying point for Welsh princes, including Owain Gwynedd who met his Welsh troops under the oak in the 12th Century and then went on to defeat Henry II in battle. | |
Dianne Coakley-Williams, whose husband Huw's family owned the oak and its land for generations, said she was woken up by an "almighty crash and a bang" as it fell near their house at about 2.20am. | |
"The wind here was absolutely dreadful - I've never known anything like it before ever," she said. | |
"I suppose it's lucky that nobody was hurt. But it's just so sad. My mother-in-law is devastated. She said it's like losing an old friend." | |
Local assembly member Ken Skates said Wrexham had lost one of its "most important and iconic pieces of local heritage". | Local assembly member Ken Skates said Wrexham had lost one of its "most important and iconic pieces of local heritage". |
"The recent snow has caused catastrophic damage to many ancient and veteran trees in the Wrexham County Borough area including some at the Grade I listed Capability Brown gardens in Ruabon, but this is definitely the worst news of all," he said. | |
"As we have seen, an ancient tree like this can take hundreds of years to reach maturity, but it can all be lost in an hour." | "As we have seen, an ancient tree like this can take hundreds of years to reach maturity, but it can all be lost in an hour." |
But Mr McBride said some people were also talking about the possibility of re-erecting the tree. | |
"It's early days. They would have to take the top off and then re-erecting it, which can be done. It's such a significant tree," he added. |