Legend has it that this tree was planted by Queen Ermengarde in 1229 at the foundation of the abbey, but the National Trust for Scotland cored the tree and in 1988 found it 400-435 years old. This makes an alternative tradition that it was planted by Mary Queen of Scots possible, but there is no evidence for this. The Heritage Trees of Scotland consider it may be the second oldest sweet chestnut in the UK with a known planting date.
This tree is my sanctuary. You can sit high in her branches gazing west down the Tay as the sun sets and image all the change she has witnessed over the centuries. There is an aura of calm beneath her elderly arms - hugging this tree is like getting a good warm cuddle from your granny!
This may be the tree mentioned in the 'List of Remarkable Trees' appendix to "The planter's kalendar (1812)" which describes "a Chesnut tree in an old garden at Balmerino, the bole of which measures 15 feet"
I remember getting the bus to gauldry fife from dundee & the family would walk down to
Balmerino, Fife at Easter time when daffodils & snowdrops were abundant
The tree itself was supported by iron rods even then ( 1970s) at this time my brother Dougie & I could play in the ruined Abbey & climb the tree , health & safety weren't the normal then.
My brother died when he was 27 years ( drugs) he never saw the millennium, mum kept on to his ashes ,she couldn't let him go. My mother died ( cancer) April 30th 2021
I scattered mother & brother ashes up this tree & on The Balmerino beach where Dougie & i would play & swim also, I haven't been back there since.
I'm glad I've done this though rather that not letting them to be as free as a bird now, thank you for reading
I remember getting the bus to gauldry fife from dundee and the family would walk down to Balmerino, Fife at Easter time when daffodils and snowdrops were abundant The tree itself was supported by iron rods even then ( 1970s) at this time my brother Dougie and I could play in the ruined Abbey annd climb the tree , health and safety weren't the norm then. My brother died when he was 27 years ( drugs) he never saw the millennium, mum kept on to his ashes ,she couldn't let him go. My mother died ( cancer) April 30th 2021
I scattered mother and brother ashes up this tree and on The Balmerino beach where Dougie and i would play ,paddle swim also, I haven't been back there since. I'm glad I've done this though rather that not letting them to be as free as a bird now, thank you for reading
Legend has it that this tree was planted by Queen Ermengarde in 1229 at the foundation of the abbey, but the National Trust for Scotland cored the tree and in 1988 found it 400-435 years old. This makes an alternative tradition that it was planted by Mary Queen of Scots possible, but there is no evidence for this. The Heritage Trees of Scotland consider it may be the second oldest sweet chestnut in the UK with a known planting date.
This tree is my sanctuary. You can sit high in her branches gazing west down the Tay as the sun sets and image all the change she has witnessed over the centuries. There is an aura of calm beneath her elderly arms - hugging this tree is like getting a good warm cuddle from your granny!
This may be the tree mentioned in the 'List of Remarkable Trees' appendix to "The planter's kalendar (1812)" which describes "a Chesnut tree in an old garden at Balmerino, the bole of which measures 15 feet"
I remember getting the bus to gauldry fife from dundee & the family would walk down to Balmerino, Fife at Easter time when daffodils & snowdrops were abundant The tree itself was supported by iron rods even then ( 1970s) at this time my brother Dougie & I could play in the ruined Abbey & climb the tree , health & safety weren't the normal then. My brother died when he was 27 years ( drugs) he never saw the millennium, mum kept on to his ashes ,she couldn't let him go. My mother died ( cancer) April 30th 2021 I scattered mother & brother ashes up this tree & on The Balmerino beach where Dougie & i would play & swim also, I haven't been back there since. I'm glad I've done this though rather that not letting them to be as free as a bird now, thank you for reading
I remember getting the bus to gauldry fife from dundee and the family would walk down to Balmerino, Fife at Easter time when daffodils and snowdrops were abundant The tree itself was supported by iron rods even then ( 1970s) at this time my brother Dougie and I could play in the ruined Abbey annd climb the tree , health and safety weren't the norm then. My brother died when he was 27 years ( drugs) he never saw the millennium, mum kept on to his ashes ,she couldn't let him go. My mother died ( cancer) April 30th 2021 I scattered mother and brother ashes up this tree and on The Balmerino beach where Dougie and i would play ,paddle swim also, I haven't been back there since. I'm glad I've done this though rather that not letting them to be as free as a bird now, thank you for reading