Crathes Garden blog #11: An enigmatic champion

A few metres further up the drive, the western yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) towers above its neighbours. It is a County Champion for Aberdeenshire in terms of height and girth. Seed of this pine was sent to Crathes in 1959 and appears to have germinated successfully, producing 53 seedlings. None of these Victorian trees have survived – the height of this champion (30m) suggests it was planted in the 1930s. I was fascinated to find, under the tree, enormously long needles (20cm) growing in threes. In America, the wood is commercially important.

Across the drive, a carved kingfisher stands beside the Millpond. The large carvings were gifted to Crathes a few years ago and have been used to mark the various trails around the estate. The Kingfisher trail follows the eastern side of the Millpond and the Coy Burn, passing along the boardwalks that lead across marshy parts of the woodland. We do get kingfishers here, but I have not been lucky enough to see one.

At the moment the bridge and trail that cross the burn and cut through Miller’s Ward to the car parks is closed because of storm damage, but the trail continues northwards, initially following the burn then turning west round the fields to pass the start of the Otter trail and on to the car parks. Where the Victorian aqueduct passes the trail I see ancient oaks fallen like dominoes. I didn’t see much in the way of wildlife on this walk but the birds were busy singing. I wondered if the thrush I heard was a mistle thrush; it did sound rather mournful.

Another day, I took the back road from near the West Lodge, past the ice-covered Ley Pond, to check some pinetum trees. These conifers were planted in the 1930s or 1940s by Sir James Burnett, 13th Baronet of Leys, who gave the estate to the Trust in 1951. Many, I think, died in the 1953 gale and more have gone in the last decade. As I approached, I could see that the two northern Japanese hemlocks (Tsuga diversifolia) were still standing. Both at 17m, they are County Champions for height. This hemlock can be identified by the notch at the end of the needles.

But what about the Huon pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii)? Was it hidden behind the hemlocks, or had it fallen? It was a huge relief to see it that it was still standing and looking good. This tree, which is endemic to Tasmania, is a Country Champion for Scotland for height (7m). In its native land it grows in riparian habitats. I have written about it in a previous blog post ‘Counting the cost’. Throughout the 19th century the Huon pine forests were exploited for their timber. By as early as 1882, they were so depleted that felling was banned, although illegal logging continued. Today the trees are regenerating well in Tasmania but the forests will take centuries to return to their original splendour because the trees are slow growing. The International Dendrology Society mentions our Crathes specimen as an ‘enigma’ for growing so well so far north and east in Britain.

I took time to enjoy the fine view over towards Banchory and Deeside. A variety of young conifers have been planted in the foreground to add to the Crathes collection, each with a protective ring of netting. Lower down, an area of commercial forestry is fenced off to prevent deer damage.

The path by the Huon pine is closed because of storm damage so I moved on along the back road to take a look at another area of young conifers planted in the last 20 or 30 years. I didn’t expect to see much storm damage since the trees are not very tall. So I was horrified to find the young Huon pine, that looked so healthy last year, had blown over and snapped at the base. Thank goodness the champion survived.

Following a deer track I came to beeches and oaks beside an old wall. The sun lit up the mosses that covered the wall and I was content that the ancient oaks had survived the storm. The rusty maroon patterns of mature Scots pine bark added to my enjoyment. But before long I saw more ancient oaks fallen and twisted, and my spirits sank.

I realised I had inadvertently strayed into the closed Silver Birch trail. I ended my walk sitting on the viewpoint bench, enveloped in the scent of daphne, accompanied by the buzzing of bees, the drumming of the woodpeckers, and serenaded by a robin. Despite the disappointments, it had been a grand walk.

I did wonder if spring might be on its way when, just this week, I spied my first lesser celandine of the year by the oak and hazel wood just to the south of the walled garden.

Spring was definitely confirmed in the walled garden where the chilling winds are kept at bay by the walls and surrounding trees: the Chionodoxa was spreading its magic throughout the garden; the Stachyurus praecox on the Aviary Terrace was dripping with flowers; the Pieris japonica ‘Rosalinda’ on the South Border was buzzing with bees; and the Cornus mas on the Yew Border was a picture.

One of the champions in the walled garden is regarded with great affection. The central Portugal laurel, Prunus lusitanica, is a Country Champion for Scotland for girth. We don’t know its age, but we do fear that, with its hollow trunk, it might not stand much longer. It is amazing that it survived the winter storms; every year is a bonus.

Updates

• James and Steve have been working on the dipping pool. Caithness slabs are being cut to make a low wall round three sides of the pool to prevent run-off of gravel and nutrients during heavy rainfall. The leaves that have blown in will rot and encourage more wildlife. We watch a frog swimming about at the bottom of the pond. The one tray of carnivorous plants that was left out has fared well, but most have been overwintering in the mist house and will soon be re-positioned on the shelving round the pool. Next winter, more will be left out to take their chance. The iron railings – that match those at the viewpoint – have arrived and will finish the landscaping to make it safe.

• Contractors have arrived to point the Croquet Lawn steps and Aviary Terrace wall. This job was delayed from last year.

• The white display in the second glasshouse has been removed and the house cleaned. Hippeastrum ‘Magnum’ is now a star. Joanna and Emily had the scary job of removing the bulbs from the old ice house (it is full of water below, with cave spiders and their dangling nests above). Presently the bulbs are in the broadspan, but soon will be displayed in the show houses.

[1] The Trees and Shrubs Online website of the International Dendrology Society is useful for further information.