Guide to a short 30 minute walk around the village - Walk 2Start from the Fox & Hounds, turn right then first right between the houses. When the road bears left, cross the small stile on the right into a field. Walk up the field and at the top cross the step stile and turn left along the old railway track. | Wych elm 10. Standing alone in the field to your right is a large and bushy wych elm (10) tree, one of the very few in Cotherstone to escape Dutch elm disease. This tree has recently been claimed to be the largest surviving elm tree in England (see link below), and may or may not be resistant to the disease. Continue along the track and through the first two gates then stop and look at the bank to your left. |  | Aspen
11. This bank is covered by aspen (11) trees. Each tree forms a colony of clones, sending up sucker after sucker to cover as wide an area as possible. Aspen leaves on slender oval stems quiver and “whisper” in the slightest of breezes. Pass through the third gate, and turn left to cross the field with a small stream on your left. |  | Alder
12. Note the beautiful, almost oriental-looking alder tree (12) on your left, with its roots in the stream. Each alder seed has a tiny drop of oil to help it float until it reaches a mud bank where it can sprout. At the end of the field, cross the stile/gate and continue along the track, crossing another stile to the road. Look to your left. |  | | Silver birch 13. Note the two silver birches (13) in the garden of the house on the corner. The clumps of fine twigs are not birds’ nests, but the result of a non-lethal infection and are called witches’ brooms. Birches once covered much of the local moorland before early human activity felled them. Turn left, cross the road and walk past the church. At the junction with the main road, stop and look left. |  | Scots Pine and Weeping Willow
14/15. A Scots pine (14) rises above a weeping willow (15). The pine’s branches glow orange-pink in contrast with its long dark green needles. These trees are probably not native this side of the border, but were widely planted in England and some believe as a signal to welcome lost Scottish rebels to a safe house. The weeping willow has branches which droop almost down to the ground and is often found close to a water course. Walk back on to the East Green, and look ahead towards the end of the green. |  |
Walnut
16. Beyond the hump-back bridge, between the stream and the gate is a walnut tree (16) from southern Europe. This one produces a respectable crop of nuts, and was planted 100 years ago, probably as a Victorian “fashion accessory”! Cross the road to the footpath, and continue back towards the village centre. Stop at the school, and look across the road to your right. |  | Yew
17. Behind the garden wall of the house opposite, you will see a group of dark evergreen yew trees (17). These are probably not more than 150 years old, whereas the oldest yews in Britain are thought to be over 4000 years old! The Red Lion is a few yards further on the left. |  |
This is the end of walk 2.
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Tree Walks 
