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| *****SWAAG_ID***** | 949 |
| Date Entered | 16/09/2016 |
| Updated on | 17/09/2016 |
| Recorded by | Tim Laurie |
| Category | Tree/Shrub Record |
| Record Type | Botanical HER |
| Site Access | Public Footpath |
| Record Date | 15/09/2016 |
| Location | Arkle Beck Pastures. Small west bank tributary stream. |
| Civil Parish | Reeth |
| Brit. National Grid | NZ 0260 0105 |
| Altitude | 233m |
| Geology | Small stream cut ravine. |
| Record Name | The Arkle Apple tree. |
| Record Description | This fine wild apple tree (Malus domestica) now laden with small ripe red fruit (not the small green fruit of the true crab which are <20mm diameter) has the appearance of a small orchard rather than a single fallen apple tree. Who it was that threw their apple core with the pip that germinated at the roots of an even older alder on the side of this small beck, we shall never know. I suspect that this apple which has the taste of crab and clearly has crab apple genes, may be the descendent of the tree that provided apple tart and cider for the early Swale shepherd family whose sheiling homestead (Database record to follow)can be seen in the nearby pastures of East Rawcroft. |
| Dimensions | 2.60m girth |
| Additional Notes | The three conjoined trunks (stems) of this apple tree rise from the very edge of this small tributary stream of the Arkle. The three trunks of this apple grow immediately below the roots of an even older coppiced alder tree (to be recorded separately). The three stems conjoin to form a pollard which has fallen across the stream. The apple tree appears first to have been coppiced to throw up three stems, then pollarded at a height off around 2m from the original ground. Finally, after developing a full canopy of mature fruiting branches, the tree fell across the stream but remained rooted. Today, all the fruiting branches are more or less prostrate and supported from the ground surface of the nearby meadow forming the structure of this very large tree.
In the future, I have no doubt that several of the branches of this tree will themselves root where in contact with the ground and will be able to throw up new trees if and when the existing rooted tree is washed out by flooding.
Thus this tree is capable of indefinite existence. |
| Image 1 ID | 6901 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 1 Description | Approach to the Apple which grows on the beck side close to the public footpath. |  |
| Image 2 ID | 6910 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 2 Description | Detail of the fallen apple tree and alder at the stream side. |  |
| Image 3 ID | 6908 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 3 Description | Ancient alders and one very old self sown apple tree line this small tributary to the Arkle. |  |
| Image 4 ID | 6909 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 4 Description | The Arkle Apple |  |
| Image 5 ID | 6911 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 5 Description | The fallen apple, detail. |  |
| Image 6 ID | 6912 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 6 Description | Canopy of the Apple |  |
| Image 7 ID | 6913 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 7 Description | Rowan and alder at stream side |  |
