The Battle of Shrewsbury

One myth relating to the battle of Shrewsbury involves the Shelton Oak. This famous tree formerly grew near the junction between the Welshpool road and the old A5. The story goes that the Welsh leader Owain Glendwyr used this tree as a lookout over movements at the battle of Shrewsbury in 1403. While it is appealing to believe in such stories it should be noted that the Shelton Oak grew around 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) away from the battlefield as the crow flies. Observations from this distance over undulating terrain are unlikely to have been particularly revealing. An additional knock to this myth is evidence that Owain Glendwyr was actually in south Wales at the time of the battle. One thing that is likely is that the Shelton Oak was alive at the time of the battle. Oak trees are known to live for over 1000 years and the Shelton Oak is likely to have been 600 years old at the very least when it died in the 1940s. The remains of the tree were removed in the 1950s for road improvements.

Ancient trees are not only important for their historical significance they also provide a haven for a variety of wildlife. Old trees provide a greater range of habitats for plants, fungi and animals than younger trees with some insects being found only on trees over a certain age. For more information on the wildlife benefits of old trees visit The Ancient Tree Forum.