History of Dorset's veteran trees

Veteran trees may be employed as territorial markers or as eye-catchers within a scene, they also become vessel for our imaginings and superstitions and conduits to a mythical past.

There are a number of Dorset veteran trees with distinct historical pedigrees which provide us with fixed points in the shifting sands of cultural history:

The Wyndham's oak near Silton, thought to be a 1000 years old. ST 783 293
A sweet chestnut within the grounds of Canford School could be 950 years old. This tree is even recorded in the Guinness Book of Records with an outstanding girth of 13 metres. SZ 039 985
The "Bastard Brother Limes" in Blandford Forum are the towns famous lime trees which stand outside the Crown Hotel. The trees were named after the town heroes John and William Bastard who rebuilt the town after the fire in 1731. ST 883 062
The "Remedy Oak" North-west of the small village of Woodlands at Remedy Gate, is the ancient oak with a plaque stating ~ That in the 16th century 'According to tradition King Edward VI sat beneath this tree and touched for the King's Evil', supposedly the King could cure the disease tuberculosis SU 051 099
The world famous Tolpuddle Martyrs' Tree at Tolpuddle is the site of the landmark trade union meeting in 1834 that became a historic symbol of the struggles for the emerging labour movement. SY 792 943
Between Blanford Forum and Wimborne is a famous avenue of Beech trees planted by French prisoners of war. The trees which border the road along the Iron Age fort of Badbury Rings number 364 on one side and 365 on the other. This line of trees forms the longest natural tunnel known. ST 954 029