Tree of the Month - October
By the time that trees are big and old enough to be measured for the Tree Register, the person who planted them has all too often passed away, leaving us to wonder about exactly when, and why, that particular tree came to be planted.
Although its warty appearance and its girth of exactly six metres might lead you to assume that it was much older, this Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis), which is one of two in St John's Place ('The Mall') in the town of Birr in County Offaly, will tell you that it was planted by the Tree Register's Hon. President, Brendan, the 7th Earl of Rosse, accompanied his father the 6th Earl. This was in 1950 and Brendan was 13 or 14 at the time.
Brendan's plane becomes the largest tree in Britain or Ireland known to have been planted by someone who is still alive.
Owen Johnson MBE VMM
(Photo: David Alderman)