Our Historic Lime Trees

Pleaching our historic lime trees

The lime trees in the High Street in Cleobury Mortimer were planted over 120 years ago to 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

For many years, the trees pollarded intermittently to stop them getting too tall and wide, but in 2000, the then Cleobury Mortimer Horticultural Society (CMHS) took responsibility for training them into the pleached structure you see today.

What is pleaching?

All the branches of a tree that are below 2 metres high are removed to leave a clear trunk. The branches above this are then tied to horizontal wires or ropes that stretch from tree to tree: our trees have two lines of rope between each tree. When the branches shoot, these are then also tied into the rope framework. Eventually, they form what looks like a hedge on stilts and can be used to form walks, tunnels and arbours, as well as to create privacy at a high level above the ground, which was popular in Medieval times.   

Who cares for them today?

In 2003, we recognised that the trees required more expert attention and negotiations took place between the local council, Shropshire County Council and CMHS for the work to be done by specialists. The contract was awarded to Lewis Arborcare which carries out the pleaching each autumn in time for the installation of the Christmas lights. Members of Cleobury Gardeners, sometimes with local residents, also trim the growth from the trunks at least once a year in addition, to maintain the smart pleached look.

We also hold fund-raising events to help raise money specifically for the lime tree pleaching, and also collect donations from members, non-members and businesses in the community. Together, this money is given to Cleobury Mortimer Town Council as a community contribution.

If you would like to donate towards the pleaching, please contact us using the contact page and we will pass your interest to our Treasurer.