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The Drunkard Rowan
Wigton, Cumbria
Recorded by: Not specified
-
Tree of the Year – Shortlisted
England, 2018
- Species:
- RowanSorbus aucuparia
- Form:
- Unknown
- Standing or fallen:
- Fallen
- Living status:
- Alive
- Girth:
- 2.20m at a height of 1.30m
- Veteran status:
- Ancient tree
- County:
- Cumbria
- Country:
- England
- Grid reference:
- NY28803865
- Public accessibility:
- Public - open access (e.g. public park)
- Surroundings:
- Roadside, Common/heath
-
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The Drunkard Rowan
Wigton, Cumbria
Recorded by: Not specified
- Species:
- Rowan
- Form:
- Unknown
- Standing or fallen:
- Fallen
- Living status:
- Alive
- Girth:
- 2.20m at a height of 1.30m
- Condition:
- Hollowing trunk, Hollowing branches, Decaying wood in the crown, Decaying wood on the ground, Decaying wood in the crown >50%, Hollow trunk - with opening
- Veteran status:
- Ancient tree
- Tree number:
- 13890
- Local or historic name:
- The Drunkard Rowan
- County:
- Cumbria
- Country:
- England
- Grid reference:
- NY28803865
- Public accessibility:
- Public - open access (e.g. public park)
- Surroundings:
- Roadside, Common/heath
- Ancient tree site:
- --
- Woodland Trust wood:
- No
- Epiphytes:
- Lichen, Moss
- Fungi:
- --
- Invertebrates:
- --
- Bats:
- --
- Recorded by:
- Not specified
- Recording organisation:
- --
- Last visited:
- 07/09/2023
- First recorded:
- 21/04/2008
It should be obvious how the Drunkard Rowan, also known as the Windswept Woman of Caldbeck Common, got its name. The tree’s trunk is bent at an incredible 90° angle, amazingly without having snapped. The common it grows on is boggy and exposed, tough conditions for any tree. Over the course of its life, the rowan has gradually sunk and bent as it has grown, thanks to the high winds it suffers and the soft clay deposit on which it sits. Unsurprisingly given the conditions, it has very few neighbours, making it stand out even more against the harsh landscape.
I visited this tree today and am able to add to the record with more photos and details. It looks in good health. I am of the opinion that it’s status should be upgraded to Ancient, the trunk is completely hollow and fragmenting and considering it’s location at over 200m elevation it’s girth is considerable. Karen McLellan 7.23