NOTICES OF REMARKABLE TREES IN NORTHUMBERLAND. 35 



III. — Notices of Remarhahle Trees in NoriJiumberla7id. By the 

 Kev. John F. Bigge, M.A. 



A fine tree, of whatever kind, must always be an ohject of 

 admiration and interest to all true lovers of nature. There can 

 be no doubt that a tree is the oldest living thing in creation ; 

 and when we consider the many venerable specimens which have 

 weathered the storm, for many centuries — such as the yew trees 

 of Fountain's Abbey, the cedars of Mount Lebanon, or the 

 famous tree in South America, which is considered not only 

 to be hundreds, but thousands of years old — it is impossible 

 not to regard them with feelings of veneration and pleasure. It 

 cannot be expected, in this the most northern county in England, 

 that we can find such specimens to boast of as in the more 

 favoured climate and soils of the south ; but still, there are to 

 be found scattered about, in a sparing manner it is true, many 

 fine trees, and it is my present intention to make such notice of 

 them as will form a guide for those who may wish to see them. 



Now, in searching for beautiful trees, as well as for beautiful 

 scenery in this county, we must, with ver?/ few exceptions, follow 

 the course of our rivers — the Tyne and its tributaries, the 

 Pont, the Wansbeck (including the Hart and Font), the Coquet, 

 the Aln,and the Till — and in the rich haugh lands adjoining these 

 streams the fine trees will be found. It is impossible that the 

 trees which I am about to describe should form anything like 

 a complete list, but all that I describe have been seen by myself. 

 I had intended to have made a photograph of each when it was 

 practicable, but want of time has prevented me from doing that, 

 w^hich I hope I may one day accomplish. Every one who has 

 a fine tree is naturally proud of it, and wishes to swell out its 

 dimensions to the utmost; but to avoid all mistakes in this 

 respect, I have always given two measurements — one the girth 

 of the tree at the level of the ground, and the other at one yard 

 above the ground. 



Common Ash, Fraximis excelsior. — There are several very fine 

 specimens of this tree scattered throughout the county ; one of 



