Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue

Whitwell Road, Empingham, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8PX.

The Yew avenue at Clipsham was originally the carriage drive to a stately home (Clipsham Hall) hence its length and its avenue-ness. It’s one of those places that you want to run up and down at first sight saying to yourself (or out loud!) “look at that one, oh look at this one”. Don’t run about too much though because the size of this site will exhaust you in no time. Some of the specimens respresent animals or birds, some are geometric shapes, some look like windmills or other curiosities and others have reliefs carved into them to represent such historical milestones as the Queen’s 50th year of reigning.

The site is looked after by the Forestry Commission who work the nearby forests. The topiary are a labour of love, particularly as there is no entrance charge to see them. If like me you see the forestry staff eating their sandwiches and watching as I dash about taking photographs with “here’s another idiot” look on their faces, don’t be at all surprised!

I think I’ll let the photographs speak for themselves.

All photographs by Anthony Blagg