The Hairy Tree

[gerardwilkie]

This is an offshoot of the Sawney Bean legend . Apparently one of his daughters , Elspeth was hung from the Hairy Tree in Girvan , South Ayrshire (some accounts say she planted it). As can be imagined , the tree was not in actual fact 'hairy' , but had an odd appearance which gave it that impression. The tree was of such a size that it could be seen from the island of Ailsa Craig , 10 miles offshore. Local legend says it still exists in Dalrymple Street , although if it does itmust either be invisible or only meagre remnants remain to this day . I know Girvan very well , and Dalrymple Street , but have never seen it. This is a curious local legend , but does anyone have any more information ?

Check these links out :

http://www.girvan-online.net/?node=379

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girvan

 

[Eponastill]

reading that, my first thought was of lovely Usnea lichens. Specifically a nice flowing long one that would make a tree look hairy, like Usnea articulata - but that's dead rare these days and you only find it in the south and west, in places with deliciously clean air.
I don't know if that species could ever have been that far north, or whether (if you're talking about a city) if it could ever have stood the pollution of all the fires / industry - doubtful.

but that's what it made me think of anyway.
(like argentem's photo here
http://flickr.com/photos/argentem/2745806553/ )


also you do get really bushy areas of twigs on ashes and silver birch sometimes? I don't know if this is a virus or a fungus or a gall or what. looks a bit like a nest but it isn't. - maybe this could conceivably be described as hairy.

OR - neither of these things have got ANYTHING to do with it. Probably this option.