One of the forests mighty ancient Beeches, formally a pollarded tree it was probably left to grow out when pollarding and coppicing were outlawed in the forest in the pursuit of naval timber. Although this is a lovely example of a tree from that period, there are many similar trees spread through the forests woodlands, though what singled this one out for me was the up turned horseshoe affixed high up its broad trunk. The up turned horseshoe in folklore is associated with luck, but why it should be here on this tree on Brockis Hill is a mystery to me. The horseshoe looks quite old, but as with so many things like this dating by appearance only is hit and miss at best. The hill top exhibits signs of quarrying at some time in the past, maybe the good luck charm is associated with them. I wonder if anybody still knows who or why is was put up. Another forest mystery.
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