A TREE, believed to be one of the oldest in Europe, may have survived its brush with Jack Frost.
The famous Crogen Oak has stood deep in the Ceiriog Valley, near Chirk, for the past 1,200 years and during that time it has withstood all that nature could throw at it, including a desperate battle between Welsh partisan fighters and an invading English army in 1165.
But two local historians feared the worst when they discovered earlier this year that despite its huge 34ft girth the tree has split right down the middle, leaving its once-proud trunk cleaved in two.
Mark Williams and Deryn Poppit reckoned the weather had managed to achieve what the passing of a millennium had failed to do and destroy the venerable tree.
But now they are breathing a sigh of relief after a tree expert examined the oak and pronounced that it might have survived after all.
Kronospan in Chirk, where Mark and Deryn are both employed, stepped in with the cash to pay for a visit by leading tree doctor Mike Eillison.
And after a thorough examination the prognosis is reasonably good.
Mark said: “Mike came along with Moray Simpson, Wrexham Council’s tree officer, and took a good look at the oak.
"They say that the roots are still in place on both halves of the trunk and that if this is the case the tree has a good chance of surviving.
“They told us it won’t be possible to say for sure until spring when it will start to bud if it is still alive so it could be a couple of weeks yet before we can tell.”
He added: “This is a great relief because we thought that it was dead.
“We are very grateful to Kronospan for helping us in this way.”
During the past year or so the site on which the tree has stood since the eighth century has been gradually turned into a major attraction for tourists from around the world.
This is mainly due to the efforts of Mark and Deryn, both of Chirk, who have campaigned tirelessly for the site of the Battle of Crogen to be officially recognised.
A plaque commemorating the epic medieval encounter was unveiled by the leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Aled Roberts, last March and more then 300 fascinated visitors have visited the site, near Castle Mill.
The tree was one of the main attractions.
Apart from the famous Pontfadog Oak a couple of miles down the road, which is thought to date back to Roman times, some people believe the Crogen Oak is the oldest in Britain.
One expert estimated it was among the 100 oldest in the world.