AN ELLESMERE tree expert has spoken of his delight at a London trip to help celebrate the launch of a prestigious book he has contributed to.

Rob McBride was invited to the launch of the Queen’s Green Canopy at the world-famous Fortnum and Mason in the capital.

He was there after he had written words to describe one of the exhibits in the book, the oak at the Gate of the Dead at Castle Mill on the grounds of Chirk Castle, which he named in 2007 after a 12-century battle.

He admitted he was delighted to be involved.

“To be invited to write the piece for the book was such an honour,” he said.

“It was a task I gladly undertook as I’d recently finished chapter three of my forthcoming Great Trees of Offa’s Dyke book which features the Oak at the Gate of the Dead, and so the words flowed freely for the piece.

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“Photographers and authors Adrian Houston and Charles Sainsbury-Plaice have produced a lavish book that does the great oak at Castle Mill, Chirk justice, along with the many stunning woodlands and other trees included.  

“To be invited to such an incredibly special venue for the book launch and to be able to meet some wonderfully interesting people there was the icing on the cake.

“I had a long chat about ancient trees and campaigning to save trees with King Charles’s head forester of the Duchy of Cornwall, Geraint Richards.

“Sir Nicholas Bacon, chairman of the Queen’s Green Canopy and I chatted a good while about the Brimmon Oak, an ex-UK Tree of the Year in 2016.

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“It ‘moved a motorway’ after a campaign by owner/farmer Mervyn Lloyd Jones and myself to save it from being felled.

“We also discussed the urgent need for new laws to properly protect our ancient trees, our 'Green Monuments, such as we do for buildings currently.”

He added: “The oak is sometimes known as the Crogen Oak after the battle of the same name that took place in 1165 between Henry II’s army and Owain Gwyneth.”

The great oak was also a stopping off point during Rob’s 13-year epic walk along Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail when he recorded more than 1,00 veteran and ancient trees along the path and monument.