Derbyshire, Dog Rose, Drought conditions, England, Environmental, Everyday Life, Flora, Flowers, Historical, Landscape, OAK TREE, Old Man of Calke, Seasonal, Summer, Survival, TREES, un-seasonal weather

1100 years plus 1

Another year and I am pleased to visit an ‘old friend’….as each year goes by I wonder if he will survive the winter, the cold, the wind and the damp. So I was pleased to see him with a brand new head of leaves.

Old-Man-of-Calke

He was named ‘The Old Man of Calke’  to celebrate this area of parkland being designated as a National Nature Reserve.  Ancient Oak’s are a major feature of these woods but this particular Oak was so named as it believed to be at least 1100 years old.  An enormous hollow trunk now sports only a handful of branches but none the less still has a handsome head of new green leaves.  One day it will disappear but I still expect it to outlive me.

 

Wild-Roses

It is early summer and the warm weather combined with all the wet weather we have ‘enjoyed’ has brought on an abundance of growth in the hedgerows. At the moment the big winner would seem to be Wild Dog Roses, their delicate shades of white and pink presenting a fresh and welcome appearance in contrast to all the greens.

I mention all the wet weather we have had, yes much needed rain to top up our reservoirs like this one at Staunton Harold now over flowing…….

Reservoir-18.6.2012

I say much needed as water levels have been at drought level for a good while now.  Just as a reminder here is the same reservoir some 11 months ago and as you can see a very different situation. The dark shape in the right foreground is a dead Pike one of many fish that didn’t survive.

derbys-august_00227_thumb

18th June

12 thoughts on “1100 years plus 1”

  1. WOW! I am impressed so much… I hope and wish this old tree to stand this winter too… Wonderful photographs they are all, dear David, how beautiful view… Thank you, with my love, nia

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  3. Hi,
    What a beautiful old oak, and so unusual with the hollow trunk, but I agree a good sign that it does have new growth.
    I love the wild rose it has beautiful colouring, and how good it is that you got some much needed rain, it’s great to see the reservoir full of water again, also good for the plants and the fish.
    Lovely photos. 🙂

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    1. Yes…if you were building a stage set you would end up with an Oak tree like this. I guess now that it a squat trunk, having lost its top of heavy branches many years ago, it is probably now more able to cope with winds.

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        1. That is what I reckon. Oak trees also get eaten away from the inside by an oak beetle so this one is now hollow. That said the bark and first inside layer is very durable so it should hold out for a good few years. But 1100 plus years is still something of an exception.

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