The Wish Tree

I had to Google this, but apparently people hammer coins into this stump as they imagine it will bring good luck. The origins are believed to date back to pagan times when people believed mystical spirits lived in trees and by making offerings to the trees people would benefit from wisdom, healing and insight. It is a similar tradition to that of throwing coins into running water, fountains or wishing wells.

At least this is just a stump, evidently folk also bash coins into several living trees around the country thus slowly poisoning them. I can't believe that killing a tree will bring much good fortune!