Village arboretum

The village has the distinction of having the only set of bells capable of English change ringing in France.  We rang them this morning. Our minister has retired so we are taking services ourselves and it was my turn today. I also had to give a sermon so was well out of my comfort zone. However, all went well. The village has a second distinction of being the only village arboretum in France.  The arboretum includes a 50 metre tall Sequoia, a magnificent magnolia grandiflora at least 130 years old, perhaps the finest example of a Tulip Tree in France and a vast variety of different conifers. Many of the trees are too tall to frame in a photo. The first specimens were planted over a period of more than a hundred years from the end of the 18th century and right through the 19th century when it was the fashion to introduce exotic new trees from abroad. The sequoia, for example, is between 130 and 140 years old and dates from the time the first specimens were introduced into Europe from North America. Sadly, no-one ever noted down when the trees were planted, where they came from and who brought them to Vernet-les-Bains. One tree is called locally, "the Boxing Tree." This is the massive Sequoia, which has very spongy bark, 30cm deep and is fantastic for punching practise. It has had to be protected with a bar around it so nobody can do this anymore as it was getting damaged.