The Ankerwycke Yew

Apologies for the lack of posts over the last few days. We have had visitors. My brother and s-i-l are in town and it's been wonderful to have them stay with us on Petersham Road. On Sunday we took a drive down to Runnymede to visit the Ankerwycke Yew. The ancient yew tree is at least 1400 years old (some sites say it's closer to 2500, but at that age no one cares). It stands on the opposite bank of the Thames to where the Magna Carta was signed in 1215 - some like to call this the beginning of democracy as it required King John to accept that his will was not arbitrary (punishment only according to the law of the land). The tree is also said to have been the place where Henry VIII met Anne Boleyn in the 1530s. We have visited it before. I love how people hide little notes in the branches just like in the wall in Jerusalem. We walked along the Thames and through the muddy fields in the area. Roxy had a wonderful time.

We then walked up the slope to the Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede. Quite fitting, as it was the 50th anniversary of his death on Friday. The ladies enjoyed a hot tea in the tearoom while we trampled up the hillside in the light drizzling rain. All in all a very nice outing, and close to home.