The tree leaflet for Hampton Court Castle and Garden provides the following information:
The oldest Cedar, growing on the slopes of Mount Lebanon, is approximately 16mts in girth and estimated to be 5.500 years old. By comparison, the first Cedar to be planted in this country, in 1647, is now 10mts in girth and our largest a mere 8mts.
Our Cedars were given pet names by one of the castle’s previous inhabitants, Johnny Arkwright (1833-1905), when he was convalescing as a child and was confined to the Orangery. The largest of the Cedars was christened Julius. We think that Julius is the tree with the door into the trunk.
I remember a Lebanon cedar in the park of Adare Manore, almost 20 metres high, and with 11 metres girth. Interestingly it’s claimed that it was planted around the same time, but it might be much younger, half as old.
Anyway, beautiful trees they are.
They are fabulous trees, we have some in our local Attingham Park
I love Cedars of Lebanon and the door in the tree is just wonderful
Really must visit this beautiful place.
The door is so cute, and so it the naming of the tree
Planting trees from distant, exotic parts is a grand idea, put to practice by pretty well every nation that has ‘travelled’. Of course, sometimes they bring strange diseases. We have ‘European’ trees in Oz which induce aploplexy in Greenies. They can only find relief by hugging natives. (Trees, not people).
I do not think of the strange diseases, perhaps I should…
When I see a cedar of Lebanon, it always reminds me of the Holy Land and Christ.
I the Cedar of Lebanon has to be one of my favourite trees. It is so graceful and, somehow, always reminds me of a summer’s day. Love the door. This place looks wonderful, CP.
I feel a connection with the cedars, as I do with my oak tree, they are so majestic
it was fun to read about the history of the tree. so often i look at trees and wonder how old they are. nice pictures to go with the story!!
It is a beautiful tree. The door makes one wonder….
Wot Amfortas sed too.
The Cedars of Lebanon are welcome. They remind us of the Holy Land
What a magnificent tree!
YES
This door is better than the Wardrobe in Narnia!
I can hear Aslan roaring.
I would love to unlock that door and see what it beyond