Page 26 - Jigsaw May 2021

A GLANCE AT THE PAST
History of the ‘Elephant’ Tree
On Friday 17th June 2011 the iconic sycamore tree known as the ‘Elephant tree’, mentioned in my May 2020 ‘Glance at the Past’ article, was felled in the Peace Park.
Pictured just a week before it came down, the distinctive side branch shaped like an elephant’s upraised trunk can be seen at the bottom
right. Estimated at being at least 200 years old, it had provided many generations
with pleasure. The more adventurous climbed it, many looked and admired its shape, wildlife called it home and, during its latter years, a fungus called Polyporus squamosus (more commonly known as Dryad’s saddle) began to grow on and in it. It was this fungus that finally ate away most of the inside of the trunk, leaving a huge cavity
and the concern that it could fall at any time. One of the smaller internal cavities is shown.
The tree was either planted or, more likely, self-seeded before postage stamps were introduced (1840) or the railway arrived in town (1845) and lived through the reigns of at least six monarchs and possibly even further
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back to the reign of George III who died in 1820.
The Peace Park was purchased by the Parish Council in 1920 as a living memorial to the local men who were killed during World War 1. Early pictures of the park show the tree with its distinctive shape even then.
People have shared their memories of the tree with me including; waving to Mum from the top; calling the Fire Brigade
to rescue those who climbed up but found the return journey beyond them; and even one person who as a youth hammered six inch nails into the trunk! One person described it as the greatest climbing challenge ever! I wrote an item about the tree for the 2011 issue
of Strapetona, the History Society’s magazine, these notes being extracts from the original. The final fall on 17th June is shown.
After felling, the elephant branch was cut into smaller pieces, many children taking them home as souvenirs. I have one part of the “elephant” branch with my archives and have counted about 170 distinctive rings in
The tree was either planted or, more likely, self- seeded before postage stamps were introduced