My youngest sister Georgie and her husband, who is from Lebanon, gave me one of my favourite books: it is a beautiful book about cedars of Lebanon, with the subtitle “Pledge of Eternity”. They are such exceptional trees, majestic and enduring, mentioned many times in the Bible, and before that an important symbol for the Egyptian Pharaohs who valued the wood, which was deemed incorruptible.
The trees were later coveted by Alexander the Great, Antigonus, the Romans, and the Arabs to build fleets of ships.
There are four taxa (family units) of cedar, firstly Cedar of Lebanon; secondly Cedrus Atlas which has blue tinged needles; thirdly Deodara (meaning woods of Gods), which has a more slender silhouette, we planted two here some four years ago. Lastly cedar of Cyprus or Cedrus Brevifolia which grows slowly and is not so tall.
The cedars here at Highclere have witnessed perhaps 250 years of history. Not long compared to some of their counterparts in Lebanon. I measured the girth of one tree and found it more than six of me with arms outstretched. Every year we plant some more, as old friends are brought down in gusting gales, or branches crack overloaded with snow.
They provide structure and beauty throughout the year in the park here. The fate of the forests of Cedars in Lebanon is however under threat. Some of the trees there are now called ‘the survivors’ as the thousands of trees have been reduced to groups of hundreds.
What better to way to mark Heroes at Highclere on Sunday August 3rd than to plant a cedar of Lebanon. I have found a place on the approach to the Castle and hope many people will walk by on the day and help us plant it. We will have pledges you can clip on the branches of it and the ones nearby, pledges to help refugees in Lebanon today and a few lucky prizes for those who take part to win – by way of a thank you.
Beside the place for the new cedar is the remains of an old one. I am sitting counting the rings to judge how old it is. What was happening in the world when this tree started?
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Hi !
I wonder how many rings there were?
I often look at old trees on historic properties here
in the Northeast and wonder what was going on
in the lives of the people there at the time the tree
started growing. I like to think of those things.
Someday I will make it to England, and Highclere
is at the top of my list of ” must” stops.
I agree, the majestic trees are silent witnesses to our past! I am going to Highclere in July and will go back often to photograph the new tree as it grows.
Hello, Always enjoy reading your blogs but this one was especially interesting. Thank you for the info about Cedars of Lebanon. Sure wish I were nearby to come help plant, but I am over the pond in PA! All good luck and know that your writing is enjoyed. My son visited Highclere and I hope to one day! They brought me all kinds if literature and booklets to read. Happy summer!
Wow I love the history of these trees, just think if they could talk what things they have seen over the years they could tell us, like who gave them life to live in such a beautiful bit of land. I love your idea of to planting a cedar of Lebanon, to mark Heroes at Highclere on Sunday August 3rd 2014 & maybe in the next 900 years our future man & woman will be talking about us in the same way.. Lady Carnarvon Please tell us went you have finished counting how old he was I bet he was getting on to be 900 years old :o)
My husband and I are planning to lead a group to visit Highcllere Castle. We wil come to see that tree and tell our group when it was planted. We are looking forward to seeing the magnificent grounds.
On a side note, we ordered baseball caps for the gentlemen and Castle coin purses for the ladies of our tour. They just now arrived and are going to be the perfect pre-trip gift to the folks traveling with us. We are indeed excited to tour the grounds and Castle in May of next year. Can’t wait!
I enjoy reading about Highclere and the personal things that you share. Thank-you so much Lady Canarvon. Great photos. God bless you and Lord Canarvon.
Lady Canarvon,
I love reading your blog and all of your books! I haven’t read anything I didn’t immensely enjoy. I hope you write more books and keep up with the blog. Unfortunately, I am stuck in the U.S.A., specifically Kentucky. I hope someday to make it up to Highclere Castle. I am only thirteen years old, but I find a deep interest and excitement for Highclere and all the information you dig up. You’re a role model to so many people, so many young girls like me. Keep on sharing.
Lady Carnarvon,
I love reading your blog and all of your books! I haven’t read anything I didn’t immensely enjoy. I hope you write more books and keep up with the blog. Unfortunately, I am stuck in the U.S.A., specifically Kentucky. I hope someday to make it up to Highclere Castle. I am only thirteen years old, but I find a deep interest and excitement for Highclere and all the information you dig up. You’re a role model to so many people, so many young girls like me. Keep on sharing.
We enjoyed our visit of Highclere in April this year and I loved the cedar trees and the way they had sweeping branches that were so graceful looking. Thank you for opening your home to the public. I am an avid Downton Abby fan and visiting Highclere was one of the highlights of my trip to Europe and UK. I wasn’t able to visit the Egyptian Museum, so I hope to visit again in the future. Also, I am enjoying reading your book on Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abby!
Lovely story, I’ve come in a little late, I see this was 2014, how is the new tree coming on? How near to the old trunk did you plant it? As we have had a beautiful Cedar of Lebanon fall this week ideally we’d like to replace it, as it framed the view. How has your replacement tree survived, and can you plant them near the old roots? You seem to have a lot of experience.
The cedar of Lebbanon tree is doing really well.