Ancient yew

As has become our routine for a winter Saturday, with no rugby, we walked locally in an area we’ve not visited for a while.

We started at Sutton Valance to walk along the Greensand Way east toward Ulcombe. The choice of Sutton Valance was based on looking at the location of a house which had attracted our attention recently. We didn’t like what we saw from the outside so will not pursue this property.

Looking at houses was inspired by a property we saw for sale adjacent to Tenterden Town Station while I was working at the signalbox a few weeks ago.

Since then we’ve joined a few mailing lists and have been inundated by properties, most of which are not suitable. We’re looking for a house which could accommodate Doreen as well. We have a house to look at in Tenterden next Wednesday which ticks many boxes.

The route was somewhat spoilt in places by the footpath churned up by heavy farm machinery making a muddy morass which even in boots was almost impossible to negotiate

Today’s blip is of Ulcombe Church and one of its two ancient yews, half way along the route. An inscription on a boulder at the base of the tree suggests it is probably more than 2000 years old, predating the birth of Christ.

We had our lunch in the churchyard, which rather conveniently had a couple of comfortable chairs by the door and even more conveniently, a toilet around the back!