Ancient Tree Forum

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The trees illustrated are from the celebrated triple avenue and other parts of the estate at Croft Castle. They are well over 350 years old, attaining heights of 30 m. and 10 m. in girth. The trunks develop cracks called “shakes” and the bark is boldly marked by a network of ribs running in a spiral down the trunk. Sadly old age and a virus called Phytopthera are taking their toll.












Gay Waddams	Gay has had no artistic training. At the N.T. property at Croft Castle near Leominster in Herefordshire, she was impressed by the ancient Spanish chestnut trees. Fascinated by the legend that they were grown with seeds from the Spanish Armada she started to draw them using photographs taken in winter when the trees are bare. This happened ten years ago in her seventieth year, and it took two years of trial and error to perfect her technique, using a Pilot drawing pen and water colour paper.