|View larger image| The mighty ash (Fraxinus excelsior) which
stands on the lawns to the front of Gordon Castle, in the
Morayshire town of Fochabers, presents an imposing figure. The
trunk is of exceptional girth for this species, measuring a
staggering 7.79 metres (25 feet 7 inches) in girth at 1m (3 feet
3 inches) above ground level. Above this, the girth becomes
grossly exaggerated because of large swellings and limb bases,
attaining 8.74 metres (28 feet 8 inches) at 1.5 metres (4 feet
11 inches) above ground. The huge, stately canopy is equally
impressive, with the massive limbs which form the framework of
the crown reaching 28.5 metres (93 feet 6 inches) in height. The
tree appears to have been pollarded many years ago, and displays
a typically low-branching and multi-stemmed crown form. As is
typical with most old ash trees, the trunk is heavily decayed
and largely hollow. It is a remarkable testament to the strength
of its timber that the thin outer shell of sound wood is capable
of supporting such a c