CROFT CASTLE

Croft Castle is one of the very best ancient tree properties in Britain.  The Quarry Oak is a magnificent 1,000 year old oak.  The famous sweet chestnut avenue, which is thought to date from 1580 to 1680 and is linked to the Spanish Armada (don't let a good story get in the way of the truth).  Sadly, they are slowly dying from Phytophthora cinnamomic, but they are beautiful as giant sun bleached hulks.  There is also the 28 hectare wood pasture restoration full of ancient oak pollards and an orchard full of ancient pollarded hawthorn, thought to have been root stock for medlar pears.