The Pentfadog Oak

So the Pentfadog Oak has finally met it's demise after 1200 years. The oldest sessile oak in Wales.
(Quercus Petraea) with a 42ft girth. It's been standing here since 802 and it's said that Henry 11 gathered his troops here in 1165 before fighting the English at the Battle of Crogen about a mile away. Climate change has almost certainly accounted for it being blown over in a storm last week. Deciduous trees have evolved the "technique" of shedding leaves in order to withstand the worst of winter storms and high winds but the unusually wet and cold year of 2012 followed by one of the coldest winters which continued through spring has left the ground in an unusual state. This area was under 15ft of snow three weeks ago and then last week it was ravaged by fearsome strong gale force winds. It has attracted millions of visits from fascinated enthusiasts for over a 1000 years.