An Historic Marker for Many Generations: The Old Elm & Others

Events organised around it on occasions of historic and community significance have turned it into a major marker. It is the place where mood of the city used to be measured. Public demonstrations and parades used to pass by the tree.

Today, most people arrange their important meetings on the place where the tree used to blossom. It remains the most definitive orientation marker for newcomers to the city and  used to be a historic marker for many generations.

It is 20 metres high and it's girth is 3 metres. In the 18th century count Grassalkovich planted one thousand wild pear trees, as he had found shelter from such a tree when running away from a wounded wild in the past. 

Kossuth wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1849 under this tree but it is called the tree of lovers as well, as count Andrássy met and fell in love with Queen Sissy here.

The ancient oak tree has witnessed entangled lives of Polish and German families involved in Poland's history over the past four centuries. It is here that Józef Wybicki, as a boy, frequently accompanied his father on household duties.

For the local community, the tree is not just a natural monument but a representation of Cassubian land and token of Polish identity.

The tree is special for its age, size and shape of the crown. It has historical, cultural and aesthetic importance for the city.

This majestic tree has been connected with the Austrian - Hungarian history of the ancient mining city known for mining gold, silver and minting coins.

Unfortunately, not all houses were so lucky. Yet, thanks to this oak, a married couple and a dog were able to reach safety on the roof of a house it was supporting.

Although the tree was badly damaged, it remained standing through everything. Local people call this oak 'The Protector'; they hope, that they will not need its help again.

This beautiful Breton oak is a good example of stubborness as it grew up on the top of the old dovecote, for almost 100 years!

Begard inhabitants and their mayor are so proud of their bonsai tree that they made it the symbol of the city. Proud, courage, stubborness… Hurray for the Bretons!

The poplar in Birr Castle Estate was the largest grey poplar in both Ireland and Britain. It was considered to be a natural hybrid of our native aspen and the white poplar of continental Europe and Asia. 

This is an excellent example of how two smallish trees got together and created a monster that has far outgrown its parents.

Offaly people were very proud of their grey poplar tree and they believed it could possibly be the largest of its kind in the world. For many it used to be an astonishing landmark, a meeting place and the symbol of a great arboretum in the heart of Ireland.

In 1165 an invading English army was ambushed by Welsh forces in the wooded Ceiriog Valley. A brutal battle ensued and the dead were buried nearby, at the ‘Gap of the Graves’, or Adwy’r Meirwon in Welsh. The only living witness to this battle, the battle of Crogen, is this oak tree.

It is now something of a celebrity, having featured on many TV programmes.

The tree is set in Fonte Colombo (Rieti). This area is famous for being the geographical centre of Italy and for its belonging to the Sacred Valley, place of pray of Saint Francis, Patron of ecology. Francis used to pray very close to this tree.

Between sky and earth, the tree grasps the rocks with a strong will to survive over the time and over the incredulous walkers and pilgrims.