Arbor Day. Tree Dressing at Aston-on-Clun in the Shropshire Marches
A black poplar tree stands beside a little stream in the Shropshire village of Aston-on-Clun. Amongst its boughs bright flags are fluttering in the breeze. Today is Arbor Day, an old tree-dressing tradition when the flags are renewed and the community celebrates their tree. How this tradition came about and for how long is open to question and one I wanted to find out more about. May 29 is also Oak Apple Day, the day in 1660 when Charles II…