Record-breaking cherry tree discovered in Cumbria
21 June 2010
A wild cherry tree in Cumbria with a girth the size of a mature oak has been named the largest cherry tree in the country.
The cherry (Prunus avium), near the village of Maulds Meaburn, is believed to be about 150 years old. It is registered as a champion tree with a girth of 5.3m (18ft) on the Tree Register, which describes it as a 'superb' tree with a single knobbly trunk. It is a spectacular sight in spring, when it is smothered in blossom, and still yields a heavy crop of cherries each year.
Until recently there was an even larger wild cherry in Yorkshire, measuring 5.7m (18.8ft) around its trunk, but its top broke off in a storm leaving the Cumbrian tree to claim the record in its place.
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