Where are the Dark Hedges?
The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees along Bregagh Road between Armoy and Stranocum in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
What happened to the trees at Dark Hedges?
A tree preservation order was placed on the trees in 2004, to enable preservation and maintenance, and in 2009 the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust was set up. Of the 150 trees originally planted by the Stuart family, about 90 remained by 2016.
When were Hedges first used?
Some hedges date from the Bronze and Iron Ages, 2000–4000 years ago, when traditional patterns of landscape became established. Others were built during the Medieval field rationalisations; more originated in the industrial boom of the 18th and 19th centuries, when heaths and uplands were enclosed .
When is the best time of year to visit the Dark Hedges?
If you aren’t too fussed about the true Game of Thrones experience, however, then The Dark Hedges is also very appealing in spring and summer when the hedges are full of life and foliage. Plus, if you visit in spring or summer, you hopefully won’t need a rain jacket if you decide to get out of the car for pictures.
How old are the trees at the Dark Hedges?
about 300 to 350 yearswere surveyed and recorded as part of a Heritage Lottery Funded project commissioned by The Dark Hedges Preservation Trust and the Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust. The trees ranged in age from mature to post mature which is estimated to be about 300 to 350 years.
When were the Dark Hedges in Game of Thrones?
Season 2The Dark Hedges Game of Thrones scene was in Season 2, Episode 1: On the King' s Road in the scene where Arya Stark has escaped from King's Landing.
What are the Dark Hedges famous for?
The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees along Bregagh Road between Armoy and Stranocum in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The trees form an atmospheric tunnel that has been used as a location in HBO's popular television series Game of Thrones, which has resulted in the avenue becoming a popular tourist attraction.
What kind of trees are the Dark Hedges?
The Stunning Bregagh Road, otherwise known as the Dark Hedges or King's Road in Game of Thrones is two rows of beechtrees that were planted in the 18th century by James Stuart, roughly 150+ beech trees where planted to line the entrance to his home - Gracehill House.
Is Dunluce Castle in Game of Thrones?
Dunluce Castle: Co. The ruins of the 16th-century castle served as the House of Greyjoy in "Game of Thrones." One of the best castles in all of Ireland, you can check out the visitor's center before exploring the beautiful stone ruins.
Where in Ireland is Game of Thrones filmed?
The Home of Thrones Filming of seasons one to eight took place in around 25 locations around Northern Ireland including Titanic Studios in Belfast, Cushendun Caves, Murlough Bay, Ballintoy Harbour, Larrybane, Antrim plateau, Castle Ward, Inch Abbey and Downhill Strand.
Why are the Dark Hedges called the Dark Hedges?
It is unclear when exactly or why they got the name of the Dark Hedges, but there are two likely explanations. First, the most obvious explanation is that the massive trees block a lot of the light, resulting in a “dark” tunnel that looks like a hedge. The other explanation is a bit more spooky.
Was Game of Thrones filmed at Giants Causeway?
A crucial part of any trip to Northern Ireland is to see the UNESCO-listed Giant's Causeway. Although it hasn't been featured in Game of Thrones, the spectacular site is a must see where you will have approx 1 ½ hours to explore.
Where are dark hedges in Ireland?
County AntrimWhere Are the Dark Hedges Located? The Dark Hedges are located on a quiet road near the town of Ballymoney in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Bregagh Road is lined with 90 with beech trees twisted branches forming an arch over the road it makes for impressive photographs indeed.
How many trees are there in the Dark Hedges?
Of the 150 trees originally planted by the Stuart family, about 90 remained by 2016. A survey in 2014 revealed that the trees are in various states of health and are at risk in bad weather. Two trees were destroyed, and one damaged, by Storm Gertrude in January 2016. Another tree came down in Storm Doris in February 2017. A tree toppled during Storm Hector in June 2018, and another came down during strong winds in January 2019. As visitor numbers have increased, concern has been expressed over vehicular traffic damaging the trees' roots, as well as problems of graffiti and the daubing of sectarian slogans on the trees. The Woodland Trust has stated that high traffic levels might cause the trees, which are surface rooting, to last less than twenty years. In 2017 the Department of Infrastructure announced plans to close the road to traffic, due to visitor numbers causing possible damage and degradation to the site. A ban on traffic using the road (between its junctions with Ballinlea Road and Ballykenver Road) came into place on 30 October 2017. Specified exemptions to the ban include emergency and agricultural vehicles in particular circumstances.
What is the dark hedge used for?
The Dark Hedges were used as a filming location for the "King's Road" in the television series Game of Thrones . The trees have also been used in the 2017 Transformers film The Last Knight.
Where is the dark hedge in Ireland?
The Dark Hedges in 2016. The Dark Hedges is an avenue of beech trees along Bregagh Road between Armoy and Stranocum in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Who is the ghost in the hedges?
According to legend, the hedges are visited by a ghost called the Grey Lady, who travels the road and flits across it from tree to tree. She is claimed to be either the spirit of James Stuart's daughter (named "Cross Peggy") or one of the house's maids who died mysteriously, or a spirit from an abandoned graveyard beneath the fields, who on Halloween is joined on her visitation by other spirits from the graveyard.
How many trees were destroyed in the 2016 hurricane?
A survey in 2014 revealed that the trees are in various states of health and are at risk in bad weather. Two trees were destroyed, and one damaged, by Storm Gertrude in January 2016. Another tree came down in Storm Doris in February 2017.
Where are the dark hedges?
The Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges can be located in Stranocum, County Antrim in Northern Ireland. The avenue of beech trees were planted by the Stuart family in around 1775, and were intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion, Gracehill House.
How many trees were planted in the Stuart family?
Of the 150 trees originally planted by the Stuart family, about 85 still remain to this day. There is a ghost story relating to the area about the grey lady, a spirit that glides along the Bregagh Road, sashaying between the gnarled trees.
What is the dark hedges?
Two centuries later, the ethereal tunnel remains a magnificent sight and has become known as The Dark Hedges , one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland and a popular attraction for tourists from across the world. With its mysterious and spectacular play of light and tranquillity the site has inspired visiting artists ...
Who is the composer of Dark Hedges?
With its mysterious and spectacular play of light and tranquillity the site has inspired visiting artists and photographers. Antrim-born composer Elaine Agnew premiered her compelling Dark Hedges composition at the BBC Proms in 2012.
What is the grey lady in the Bregagh Road?
A favourite local ghost story features the grey lady, a spectre that glides along the Bregagh Road, sashay ing between the gnarled trees. She vanishes from sight when she passes the last tree.
How long do beech trees live?
Interesting fact: beech can live for hundreds of years with coppiced stands living for more than 1000 years. [Woodland Trust] The beech woodland is home to a wide range of flora, mammals, birds and insects including:
How long does a Fagus sylvatica tree live?
The life span of a typical Fagus sylvatica L. would be about 150-200 years. Mature trees grow to a height of more than 40m, and develop a huge domed crown. The bark is smooth, thin and grey, often with slight horizontal etchings.
When do beech trees grow?
Beech is monoecious, meaning both male and female flowers grow on the same tree, in April and May. The tassel-like male catkins hang from long stalks at the end of twigs, while female flowers grow in pairs, surrounded by a cup.
Who built Gracehill House?
GRACEHILL HOUSE. James Stuart built Gracehill House in c.1775 and named it after his wife, Grace Lynd. The family planted an avenue of over 150 beech trees along the entrance to the Georgian estate. It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached Gracehill House.
What is the dark hedge?
Here is everything you need to know about visiting. The Dark Hedges is an avenue composed of beech trees growing either side of an old Irish road. The beech trees were planted in the 18 th -century by the Stuart family as an enchanting entryway to their family home, Gracehill House. While being a popular tourist attraction based on its beauty ...
When to visit the Dark Hedges?
However, if you want the real Game of Thrones experience, your best bet is to visit The Dark Hedges on an overcast day in winter when there is very little foliage on the trees.
How far is the Dark Hedges from Belfast?
This proximity will give you lots of options for fun activities, including The Titanic Museum. The Dark Hedges is only about 14.5 km (9 miles) away from Old Bushmills Distillery, which offers daily guided tours.
When is the Dark Hedges in Game of Thrones?
If you aren’t too fussed about the true Game of Thrones experience, however, then The Dark Hedges is also very appealing in spring and summer when the hedges are full of life and foliage. Plus, if you visit in spring or summer, you hopefully won’t need a rain jacket if you decide to get out of the car for pictures.
Is there parking at the Dark Hedges Hotel?
There is parking available at The Hedges Hotel, which is only a short walk from The Dark Hedges themselves. The parking is only for paying customers, so it gives you an excuse to stop into the Hedges Hotel Scullery Bar and Restaurant for food or drink before you go to see The Dark Hedges.
How old are Devon hedges?
When stone-faced, the stones are generally placed on edge, often laid flat around gateways. A quarter of Devon 's hedges are thought to be over 800 years old. There are approximately 33,000 miles (53,000 km) of Devon hedge, which is more than any other county.
Why are hedgerows so old?
The age structure of British hedgerow trees is old because the number of new trees is not sufficient to replace the number of trees that are lost through age or disease. New trees can be established by planting but it is generally more successful to leave standard trees behind when laying hedges.
What is hedge laying?
In essence, hedgelaying consists of cutting most of the way through the stem of each plant near the base, bending it over and interweaving or pleaching it between wooden stakes. This also encourages new growth from the base of each plant. Originally, the main purpose of hedgelaying was to ensure the hedge remained stock-proof. Some side branches were also removed and used as firewood.
What is a hedge in Germany?
A hedge or hedgerow is a line of closely spaced shrubs and sometimes trees, planted and trained to form a barrier or to mark the boundary of an area, such as between neighbouring properties.
How many miles of hedges are there in Cornwall?
There are about 30,000 miles (48,000 km) of hedges in Cornwall today. Hedges suffer from the effects of tree roots, burrowing rabbits, rain, wind, farm animals and people. How often repairs are needed depends on how well the hedge was built, its stone, and what has happened to it since it was last repaired.
Why do we trim hedges in California?
Hedges trimmed in a California lawn. Hedges and pruning can both be used to enhance a garden's privacy, as a buffer to visual pollution and to hide fences. A hedge can be aesthetically pleasing, as in a tapestry hedge, where alternate species are planted at regular intervals to present different colours or textures.
What are hedgerow trees?
Many hedgerow trees are veteran trees and therefore of great wildlife interest. The most common species are oak and ash, though in the past elm would also have been common. Around 20 million elm trees, most of them hedgerow trees, were felled or died through Dutch elm disease in the late 1960s.
Overview
Status and conservation
A tree preservation order was placed on the trees in 2004, to enable preservation and maintenance, and in 2009 the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust was set up. Of the 150 trees originally planted by the Stuart family, about 90 remained by 2016. A survey in 2014 revealed that the trees are in various states of health and are at risk in bad weather. Two trees were destroyed, and one damaged, by Sto…
Origin
In about 1775, James Stuart built a new house, named Gracehill House after his wife Grace Lynd. Over 150 beech trees were planted along the entrance road to the estate, to create an imposing approach.
Legend
According to legend, the hedges are visited by a ghost called the Grey Lady, who travels the road and flits across it from tree to tree. She is claimed to be either the spirit of James Stuart's daughter (named "Cross Peggy") or one of the house's maids who died mysteriously, or a spirit from an abandoned graveyard beneath the fields, who on Halloween is joined on her visitation by other spirits from the graveyard.
Filming location
The Dark Hedges was used as a filming location for the "King's Road" in the television series Game of Thrones. The trees have also been used in the 2017 Transformers film The Last Knight.
Further reading
• Barker, Hugh (10 April 2012). Hedge Britannia: A Curious History of a British Obsession. London, U.K.: Bloomsbury USA. ISBN 9781408801864.