Lonely Tree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lonely Tree |
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The Lonely Tree atop Green Hall Hill in 2012
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| Species | Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) |
| Location | Llanfyllin, Powys, Wales |
| Coordinates | 52°45′45″N 3°15′02″W / 52.7624°N 3.2506°W |
| Date seeded | Before 1815 |
| Date felled | February 2014 |
| Custodian | Llanfyllin Town Council |
The Lonely Tree was a famous Scots pine tree. It grew on a hill near Llanfyllin, a town in Powys, Wales. You could see it from most of the town. This made it a very important local landmark. Many special traditions were connected to the tree. In February 2014, a big storm blew the tree over. People tried hard to save it, but the tree died in June 2015. The Lonely Tree was named Welsh Tree of the Year in 2014. It also came tenth in the European Tree of the Year awards in 2015. Today, seventeen young trees, called saplings, have been planted nearby. People hope one of them will grow to be as special as the original Lonely Tree.
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About the Lonely Tree
The Lonely Tree was a type of tree called a Scots pine. Its scientific name is Pinus sylvestris. It stood on top of Green Hall Hill, which is about 250-metre (820 ft) high. From this hill, the tree looked over the town of Llanfyllin in Powys, Wales. You could see it from many parts of the town.
How Old Was the Tree?
Experts believe the tree started growing before the year 1815. This means it was over 200 years old! Because it was so old, it was called a veteran tree. A veteran tree is a tree that is very old and important for its age, size, or history. The Lonely Tree was about 2.65 metres (8.7 ft) around its trunk. Sadly, some of its wood was decaying, and its branches were becoming hollow.
A Special Local Landmark
The Lonely Tree was a very popular spot for local people and for hikers. It was used as a campsite for scouts. It was also part of the cross-country running course for the local school. In 1999, it was chosen as the site for one of the millennium beacons. These beacons were lit across the UK to celebrate the new millennium.
Many traditions grew around the tree. Local people would carve their initials into its bark. Some people even proposed marriage near the tree. Others chose to have the ashes of loved ones scattered there. The tree was so important that it became the symbol for the Llanfyllin Town Council.
The Storm and Its Aftermath
In February 2014, a powerful storm hit the area. Winds of 100-mile-per-hour (160 km/h) blew the Lonely Tree over. This was a sad day for the community.
Community Efforts to Save the Tree
After the storm, local people worked hard to try and save the tree. They brought between 30 and 60 tonnes of soil up the hill. Local companies helped by donating equipment. The soil was placed over the tree's roots. This was done to stop the roots from drying out. Everyone hoped the tree would grow back from its root system.
Hundreds of people visited the site after the storm. They wanted to pay their respects to the fallen tree. People living outside Wales, who were originally from the area, even sent money to help care for the tree. Ann Williams, who was the mayor of Llanfyllin at the time, said: "The Lonely Tree shows how much a community can stick together and keep something alive."
Recognition and Replacement
Even after it fell, the Lonely Tree received a lot of attention. In 2014, it was voted "Wales's third favourite special place." In October of that year, it was entered into the Welsh Tree of the Year competition. The tree won this competition! Because it won, it was then entered into the European Tree of the Year competition in 2015. It finished tenth in Europe, receiving 1,548 votes.
By April 2015, the town council started planning for a replacement tree. They also talked about putting up a memorial plaque if the tree did not recover. In June, it was confirmed that the Lonely Tree had died. Its remains were left in place on the hill. Seeds were collected from the tree, hoping to grow new trees from them.
By December 2015, seventeen young trees, called saplings, had been planted nearby. They were placed inside a new fenced area to protect them. The hope is that at least one of these saplings will grow to be as iconic and special as the original Lonely Tree. One of the new saplings came directly from the original tree. Another was grown from seeds found locally. The rest were given by a plant nursery.
