In my Cuckfield blog a few days ago I mentioned a tree in the churchyard that had been grown into a fantastic umbrella type shape.

I thought it was a Lime tree but wasn't sure, so I got in contact with the secretary at the church and here is her reply.

I have spoken to the gentleman who looks after our churchyard here at Cuckfield, he tells me that the tree is a Weeping Ash latin name Fruxinus Excelsior Pendula.

It was planted 80-90 years ago on a Sergison grave and trained around an iron hoop and trimmed every year which gave it that umbrella appearance. The hoop has long since rusted away but it is still pruned and trimmed every year.

Isn't it nice when people know about their surroundings.

Incidentally the Sergison's owned Cuckfiled park which contained a large mansion house reputed to be haunted.

The ghost here is that of "Wicked Dame Sergison" who died in 1848 aged 85 one documented sighting was in 1890 when to show her disapproval of her daughters wedding the ghost put in an appearance at the poor girls reception, needless to say the marriage didn't last very long.

Further owners of the estate have often reported seeing a shadowing figure in the corridors, and guest have reported the feeling of a presence on the main stairway.