Neat site. I have been browsing it for some time. Soon as one doesnt make it they should be able to determine its age

Did you notice the rootball, the top, and the way they're moving it?

Great 'set the scene' looking trees for Sleepy Hollow type movies. Good intentions trying to save them, but I wonder if it will pay off. I would be terrified to 'carry' them like they are doing, wow. How does that chain not snap into pieces?

I didn't know olive trees grew in the UK. I thought they needed lots of sun. Well, if they were there for 1,000 years, they obviously do.

These aren't in the UK; they're somewhere in the Mediterranean. Olives can survive in the most favourable sites in southern England given shelter, very well-drained soil, and as warm a spot as possible, but there aren't any big old ones. The largest is at Chelsea Physic Garden in London, 7 m tall and 29 cm trunk diameter.

Resin

Oh ok, I figured that if the olives were okay, Live oak Q Virginiana may do okay. It may have been you who said it doesn't do well there. You or another UK gardenweber said it hasn't survived previous attempts. When I got to visit the UK in 2001, I remember some palms in the ground, some wrapped in burlap, some not. The trip was a blur of continuous driving through towns to see castles and only a few hours in London. I wish we could've seen more of London but we wanted to cram in as much as possible in the little over a week that we had. There was a tree in Cardiff castle grounds with big high bulky roots, kinda reminds me of Beech. If you never visited you can't tell me but I wonder what it was. Maybe some web searching will help. Sorry for rambling.

"I remember some palms in the ground"

Chusan Palm Trachycarpus fortunei is hardy throughout Britain; several other species are hardy in warm areas (including inner London, which has a big winter heat island effect), including Phoenix canariensis (e.g. here; same one in winter), Jubaea chilensis, etc.

"There was a tree in Cardiff castle grounds with big high bulky roots, kinda reminds me of Beech"

Never been there, but could very easily be a Beech. Or was it this huge Holm Oak Quercus ilex right by the entrance?

Resin

Isn't it possible to safely evaluate a trees age by removing a very small diameter core? Seems I've read of such a procedure.

In many cases, yes, it is possible and commonly done. The dendrochronology people over at the University of Tennessee have done this for many historic trees in this area.

I have been to Cardiff castle and I think Resin is correct. The only big and memorable tree I recall is the Holm Oak.

Okay, Thanks, it is probably what you think it is because it may be the only tree. It has been almost 12 years since I was there, and pics weren't from all angles. I thought maybe Fig, but you are probably right. I liked trees back then but not overboard like now. Thanks guys. When I get time I'm gonna google earth it and websearch the castle grounds photos.