Tallest Tree in Country
Posted: Apr 21 2010
On April 8th 2010 the Ardkinglas Grand Fir (Abies grandis) regained its title of the UK’s tallest tree. The Grand Fir situated in the Woodland Garden of the Ardkinglas Estate on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyllshire was measured at 64.28 m or 210’ 11”.
Local tree surgeon Iain Campbell Duncan of ICD Tree Services, Alistair Cameron and Chris Betts, supported by colleague Dougie Cameron climbed the tree hoping that it would be in excess of 64 metres, approximately 8 metres taller than Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square.
Asked why Scotland is home to so many of the tallest trees in the country Iain Campbell Duncan said ’Scotland provides the ideal growing environment for these trees. The Ardkinglas Estate in particular is a sheltered spot and is generally mild and moist with excellent soil. The long hours of summer sunshine also make a significant difference’. They were sponsored for their attempt and will raise cash for two charities – Air Ambulance and Erskine (homes for retired ex servicemen and women). Dougie Cameron said ‘We chose these charities as the Air Ambulance is hugely important to parts of rural Scotland like this. Erskine does a wonderful job looking after service men and women with sometimes dreadful injuries’.
It is thought that the Grand Fir was planted in the Woodland Garden of the 12,000 acre estate around 1876 (battle of the Little Big Horn, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the new fangled telephone to Queen Victoria and the inventor of the bicycle Kirkpatrick McMillan died). The planting of unusual and exotic species was a common practice of Victorian horticulture, with many examples being introduced from the far flung corners of the British Empire. It is thought that the Grand Fir was brought to Argyll from North America. Today, the Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens includes a huge range of often rare and unusual plant species including a collection of unique rhododendrons and azaleas. The 25 acre garden is open to the public daily and has one of the most outstanding plant collections in Scotland. There are 7 ‘champion trees’ on the Estate all in excess of 60 metres. This includes the ‘mightiest conifer in Europe’, a European Silver Fir which is almost 10 metres in circumference