Cumbria stakes a claim to largest cherry tree

Cumbria can now claim to hold the honour of being home to the UK‘s largest wild cherry tree.

Yorkshire previously held the record with a specimen measuring 18.5ft around, but a storm left it badly damaged and meant it lost its title.

A monstrous Cumbrian tree, located near the village of Maulds Meaburn, is now thought to be the largest in the country and is said to have the girth of a mature oak.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the Prunus avium could be as much as 150 years old and measures 18ft around.

It is listed as a champion tree on the Tree Register, which describes it as a “superb” specimen.

Garden and greenhouse enthusiasts in the area have been encouraged to pay it a visit in the spring, when it is covered in blossom.

In other news, the RHS recently reported that research from Oxford University and English Heritage has shown that ivy can protect buildings.