A new exhibition has launched on some of the Lake District’s most ancient trees.
The National Trust at Sizergh is holding an exhibition on the property’s trees – the oldest of which is estimated to be around 2,000 years old.
Using projections and lightboxes, the exhibition will shine a light on the trees and the wildlife that calls them home.
It will be accompanied by a 1.5 mile walking trail which showcases some of Sizergh’s most impressive ancient trees as well as a programme of guided walks.
Standing proud on the estate for centuries, Sizergh’s ancient trees tell stories about the landscape.
The oldest tree – which is estimated to be an impressive 2,000 years old – has seen lots of significant Sizergh history – the marriage of Elizabeth Deincourt to Sir William de Stirkeland in 1239 and when the estate passed into the hands of what became the Strickland family.
It has also seen the grant from Edward III in 1336, which allowed Sir Walter Strickland to enclose the land around Sizergh as his exclusive park and It lived through Roman Britain, the Norman conquest, the Black Death, and the Wars of the Roses.
A pair of 240-year-old chestnut trees may have breathed a sigh of relief – grown from seeds taken by Cecilia Strickland from Versailles in 1780, they escaped the upheaval of the 1789 revolution in France.
In their more peaceful new home, they witnessed the industrial revolution and, along with the 150-year-old birch trees on Sizergh’s estate, two world wars.
All of these trees bore witness to the gifting of Sizergh to the National Trust in 1950 by Thomas Hornyold-Strickland, and have been looked after by the Trust ever since.
Sam Sharples, area ranger at Sizergh, said: “Ancient trees host an extraordinary diversity and volume of life – in, on and under them – flora, fauna and fungi.
“The National Trust cares for more ancient and veteran trees than any other landowner in the world, so we have a particular responsibility to look after them in an exemplary standard.
“Here at Sizergh we have over 400 ancient or veteran trees, and we hope visitors will join us to celebrate how incredible they are with this exhibition, and our programme of self-led and guided walks.’
The free exhibition is open 10am to 5pm, from September 6 until November 3, in the Great Barn. You can find the trail, which is self-led, on Sizergh’s website.
Guided walks are Mondays from 16 September, 11am-1pm – attendees are able to book a free place on the trust’s website.
Entry is free, but admission prices apply to non-National Trust members. National Trust members should bring their membership cards to scan on entry.
The Lake District is home to hundreds of ancient trees and some believe Giant Californian Redwoods which live for thousands of years could become a bigger feature here. Read more here.
