The Muirhead Oaks

Old Oak at Lauchope

Lauchope House and Tower, Chapelhall has a documented history going back to the 15^th Century.  Known for its exceptionally thick walls, Lauchope was home to the Muirhead Family until it was destroyed by English Dragoons in 1570 in retaliation for James Muirhead aiding the escape of James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, following the assassination of the Regent Moray. (below)

The Regent Moray 

The Muirheads were still in possession of the land until the Roberton family commenced build of a New Mansion in 1839.

Lauchope House, how it looked in the mid 19th Century

As my back ground is in horticulture, when I visit a site for the first time I tend to look for what plants are growing in a particular area to give me an idea of the habitat I am dealing with.  This will give me an idea of what other plants I can expect to see growing alongside it.

One of the first trees I always try and seek out when I visit a new site is Oak.  Oak trees are long lived and can give you an idea of how old your particular patch of woodland is.  They also support a greater range of diversity of species than any other native tree. 

Lauchope Oaks

Many insects, invertebrates, birds, raptors, owls, bats, epiphytic plants, mosses ferns and lichens to name but a few, make their homes in oak trees.

Oak trees provide excellent habitats for  wildlife

When you visit a site regularly you notice the change in seasons and different plants shine at different times of the year. 

Little jewels

I’ve been walking my dog Daisy at Lauchope for a few years now.  The woodland is dominated by Ash trees and Beech which has self-sown from previous hedge boundaries which have been allowed to grow out.

My long suffering "assistant" 

The grand avenue is a mixture of Lime, Beech and Sycamore.  There are also 3 magnificent Scots Pine specimens and birch in boggier areas of the site.

Grand Avenue in Winter

Shrubs include Hawthorn and Blackthorn which are a picture in Spring when teamed with oodles of Cow parsley and in Autumn you get the wonderful berries too.

Most of the mature trees on site would appear to be between 150 and 200 years old which fits in with the redevelopment of the site which started in 1839.  There are however a few trees which would appear to predate this, these I find particularly interesting. 

Old Oak at Lauchope

Some of the oak trees would appear to be 400+ years old, several of them exhibiting signs of being potential roosting sites for bats.  I have arranged for the “Batman” to visit with his “big  ladder” and confirm if they are present. *Claps hands, very excited!!*

Who lives in a house like this??

Buzzards were nesting in one of the old oaks in 2015 but no nests this year, which may in part be down to M8 extension works at the base of their tree.   Hopefully the birds of prey will return when the work is complete.

Buzzards have nested here for years, until this year...

 The habitat is not ideal for oaks, the soil is acidic and over-wet, this leads me to think they are perhaps older than they appear on first glance, especially when you see all the gnarls, crevices, lumps and bumps on the trees.  When measuring the girth to determine the age it is important to remember growing conditions are less than ideal compared to say,  a site in the south of England.

The mature oak trees have been deliberately planted in specific locations and are part of the designed landscape, marking out various boundaries and vistas.  They are not self-seeders.

One of the younger Lauchope Oaks

Given that some of the oak trees look to be over 400 years old, this leads me to believe they may have been planted by the Muirhead Family who owned the land at the time, perhaps in a nod to the Muirhead of Lauchope Coat of Arms which features 3 acorns, the fruit of the oak tree.

Muirhead of Lauchope Coat of Arms

It would also be interesting to discover whether they are "children" of the Cadzow Oaks. given the Muirhead close family ties with the Hamiltons.  Maybe one day when iphones can test genetics.........

Old oak at Lauchope

In other news a solid timber fence has been erected between Lauchope and the M8, whether this signals an end to development works, or it has been erected to hide what is going on behind it, only time will tell.

My ultimate aim is to save the site at Lauchope for the Community, it would make a fantastic ecology, nature, historical education site.  Firstly, the site needs to be recorded and photographed for RHMS, then I need to open a dialogue with the right person at the Council (Whoever that may be).  This project will however, only succeed with the support of the Community.  This is paramount.

If you are interested in learning more about the site or would like to assist in saving it for the community, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the author, or you can check out “Lost Houses of the Clyde Valley” on Facebook.

“Mighty Oaks from little Acorns grow” Unknown