The Mystery of Brighton’s Oldest Tree – A Bike Hunt Across the City

I cycled across Brighton to settle the debate: where’s its oldest tree? From churchyard yews to hidden elms, this hunt turned into a proper mission. Watch if you like history, bikes, and a bit of chaos. 🌳🚴‍♂️

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Brighton is full of history, from the Royal Pavilion to the old lanes. But today, we’re searching for something even older. Brighton’s oldest tree. But where is it? How old is it? What type of tree is it? And can we even get there by bike? Before I set off, I need to do some digging because finding Brighton’s oldest tree isn’t as simple as you’d think. Turns out there’s a few contenders for the title, and I need to figure out which one truly holds the crown. There are two contenders for Brighton’s oldest tree. The legendary Preston Twin, a historic elm in Preston Park, and an ancient UT tree in Stanma Park. Time to hit the road and check them out. Starting with the famous Preston Twin. As I cycle there, let me tell you a bit about Preston Park. It is Brighton’s largest urban park, spanning 63 acres. Originally part of the Preston Manor Estate in 1883, the land was bought to create a public park. It became a hub for recreation, hosting cricket, football, and cycling events. Apart from being home to some of the oldest elm trees in the world, this is where you’ll also find the world’s oldest working Belladro. Opened in 1887, it is simply known as the Preston Park Velro. Now, I believe this tree is down by the main road, so I think I’m heading in the right direction. [Music] Meet the Preston twins. Planted in 1613. Originally, they were two 400-year-old elm trees that stood as living monuments to Brighton’s history. Though they survived Dutch elm disease that killed millions of their kind, the southern tree faced one challenge too many. When a lethal combination of old age and structural damage from the 2017 storm finally proved fatal. So strange that this is here. I come to this park all the time. In fact, I was here earlier today doing the park run, and I’ve been using the park for years, but I never knew this tree was here. We can see just how close the two trees were together. Sadly, we’re down to one. And that one’s looking pretty old to say the least. It’s amazing to think that when this tree was planted, Shakespeare was still alive. This is thought to be the UK’s oldest elm tree. But is it Brighton’s oldest tree? I’m not sure as that accolade may sit with an ancient new tree in Stanma Park. It’s a bit of a ride from here, but let’s go and check it out. Well, it’s a new day and I’m off to Stanma Park to see a tree that I believe might be even older than the new tree in Preston [Music] [Music] Park. I’m pretty sure I know which tree they’re talking about here. It’s in a courtyard by a church. I’m sure I’ve seen it. So, I’m going to head straight [Music] there. There she is. Now, the tree in Preston Park is an elm tree. This is a U tree. And I think this is considerably older than the Preston Park tree. U trees are often planted near churches because they represent eternal life and resurrection, echoing Christian themes. Interestingly, many of these utrees are older than the churches they stand beside. It is widely thought to be at least 500 years old and perhaps much older still, making this without doubt the oldest tree in Brighton. Thanks for riding along as we uncover Bright’s hidden history and found its oldest tree. If you’ve enjoyed the journey, give it a like and subscribe for more cycling adventures. And drop us a comment if you know of any more hidden gems I should explore next. [Music]