This right after the mob attacking the limo of Charles and Camilla makes me think it's related, possibly.The tree shouldn't have to pay for people mad at the royals, for whatever reason. What kind of tree is it?Is it just called Holy thorn tree?

Botanically Crataegus monogyna 'Biflora'. Phipps, Hawthorns and Medlars (2003, Timber Press, Portland/Cambridge) refers to several trees at Glastonbury rather than one.

Very sad about the Glastonbury thorn, although I personally doubt very much it's really 2000 years old. And there are several clones of it around the place. Whether there's a connection with the protests against the Government's massive increase in student fees (which is what the Royals got caught up in on their way to an engagement) is not clear.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glastonbury thorn

"The tree shouldn't have to pay for people mad at the royals, for whatever reason."

Speculation in the UK is that the tree was cut down as revenge against the landowner who was also the owner of a money changing business that failed owing millions of pounds to creditors. While it is true the Queen is given a sprig from the tree every year for her christmas decorations, it is not believed the attack was aimed at the royals.

It is called the Holy Thorn tree because the original tree allegedly grew from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea when he placed it in the ground at Glastonbury some 2000 years ago.

As Ron mentioned, it has been propagated by grafting and/or cuttings and there are now several such trees, the "original" having been cut down during the English Civil Wars in the 1640's.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glastonbury Thorn at Wikipedia

"Vandalism" is putting it mildly.

Will it regenerate from the root system? Some trees have this capability. My American Persimmon that got squished when the enormous wild black cherry fell on it during the big storm in June 2008 was cut off to ground level. It didn't distress me too much, as I knew from experience that persimmons are very generous with their suckers. Long term, probably the best thing for it, as it was getting kind of long in the tooth and in decline. Now, I have a nice new tree about 5/6 feet tall coming from the roots in the same location.

Same species has been used as a sheared hedge for a long time in Britain. What is different about 'Biflora' is the flowering at other times than spring.

And some retention of leaves beyond autumn.

Common hawthorn is a weed here. Yes, stumps can sprout.

Lots of unrest in societies across the spectrum. Lots more of these to come, which is one reason for seed banks, cuttings, etc.

Dan

With the exception of our splitting the Soviet Union the map has remained relatively stable since the forties.

Any links to information on wars tearing up native forests anywhere? The Hurtgen of WWII comes to mind as does the agent orange experience. Can't recall hearing anything was driven extinct. Then again that World at War series didnt focus on horticulture

I read this story a couple days ago, and was saddened.

Of course, I mentioned that the trunk should back-bud...and that cuttings could be propagated.

It was then pointed out that this tree (clone) was propagated/planted in the 1950's.

I'd like the culprit caught....and splintered.

"Contemplate this on the tree of woe!"


Josh

Denninmi asks, "Will it regenerate from the root system?"

Looking at the picture in the link it seems to have been cut off at the top of the trunk, effectively pollarding it. I am pretty sure it will regrow. And a lot of cuttings have been taken. There are clone trees around too. What I find surprising is that it was done without anyone noticing. Unless each branch was hand sawn there must have been a chain saw involved - very noisy in a very exposed place.

Here is a link that might be useful: Glastonbury thorn

Bloody vandals! Lock em up, throw sway the key. Or send em to Afghanistan without weapons!

It would be expected that the use of Agent Orange in Indochina would have exterminated many species. Mature tropical rainforests have a completely different dispersal of plants than here in temperate areas, instead of whole regions with a handful of tree species growing in groves of one kind on many sites for instance one rainforest plot will often be made up of complexes of many species, with each tree in the stand being a different species. Many species can have extremely limited distributions, burning or spraying a single ridge may cause multiple extinctions.

No different than felling tropical forests for agriculture, like temperate forests have been felled. The difference being vandalism, itself a senseless act.

My daughter used to work in Glastonbury, and I know that area well. Whether that tree is fact or tradition, it is a treasure of the community and its loss would be more than just in the physical sense, should it perish. I have never understood vandalism, and ancient trees seem to be a common target. It's ugly and sad.