point15

Stop 15

Directly across the lawn is a yellow form of the Irish Yew. The Irish Yew arose as a "sport" in Co. Fermanagh in 1780 from a normal female Common Yew. It has a distinctive upright habit. Typically the leaves are very dark green but the form 'Fastigiata Aurea' is, as the name suggest, golden yellow. It is widely planted in churchyards and large gardens.

The lake in front of you is one of a series of eight, all of which are artificial. The lake you see used to be two. Sneyd decided it would look better if it was one long lake with a bend in it so you can't see the entire lake in one view. The spoil from excavations needed to join the two lakes was used to construct the bank opposite which was then planted up with a range of conifer species including Giant Redwood, Swamp Cypress and Western Hemlock. The Woodland Trail guide takes you past these. At the bottom of the lawn (right of picture) is a a pair of Giant Redwoods, see next stop.

In the early 2000s the lake was almost filled in by silt and covered with vegetation. As part of the Lakes and Valleys Project to restore this part of the estate to its original state, the lake was dredged, the dam repaired and the path round the lake re-surfaced. The lake itself has a population of breeding Mallard and Moorhens. Lately a pair, sometimes two, of Canada Geese has bred. If you are really lucky you may catch a glimpse of a Kingfisher flying past.