Hethel, Norfolk, and its Old Thorn ....

Hethel Old Thorn.... "This unique nature reserve was given to the Norfolk Naturalists Trust in 1960 by the late Mr F W Myhill.  It consists of a single hawthorn and in total covers only 0.025 hectares.  Local tradition maintains that The Thorn was a meeting places for peasants during the revolt against King John and this means that it is at least 700 years old.  The Thorn has always been famous for its size.  When Grigor examined it in 1841 he found the trunk measured a staggering 12 foot 1 inch in circumference while the branches spread over 31 yards.  This is beautifully captured in Ninhams etching done at around the same time .....

It seems that The Thorn has always been an important part of village life.  Some villagers can still remember how children would dance the Maypole and then scramble to The Thorn to count the number of props holding up the boughs.  Since Ninham's etching The Thorn has split into separate but living portions.  Management is aimed at keeping the oak props and cattle fence in good order."  Source:  Information board at The Hethel Old Thorn

The Thorn is said to be one of the most ancient hawthorns in England, superstition has it that it grew from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea - a folk tale associated with other thorns throughout the country including those at my beloved Glastonbury.

My photos of The Hethel Old Thorn..... Crataegus monogyna....

... The Thorn is mentioned in a deed dating from the early part of the thirteenth century as a boundary tree.

Pixie didn't come with me into the field to see The Thorn, I was afraid she might bark at the cattle and cause a stampede... Rawhide!

Hethel church.... the tower dates from 1110AD, which makes it older than Norwich cathedral.  The churchyard won a biodiversity award in 2014. 

During the Second World War, Hethel airfield was an airbase for the 389th Bomb Group of the 8th US Army Air Force.  B24 Liberator Bombers flew from Hethel in raids over Germany. 

On one of the pretty walks around Church Farm....

and down the road at Mulbarton........

How jammie am I..... look who posed for the camera....