Discovery of Trees Planted by Robert Burns
Trees believed to have been planted by Robert Burns over two centuries ago have been identified at Ellisland Farm, located near Dumfries in the south of Scotland. This is the very farm where Burns composed iconic works such as Auld Lang Syne and Tam o' Shanter.
The mature beech trees stand within the grounds of Ellisland Farm and are part of a series of recent discoveries, which also include original floorboards and a neoclassical wooden mantelpiece.
Burns designed and constructed the farm on the banks of the River Nith in 1788. The buildings, which hold a Category A listing, have remained largely unchanged since that time.
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust is currently engaged in a campaign to raise £12 million to restore the farm and develop it as a visitor attraction.
Heritage forester Andrew Brown identified the beech trees, which Burns is thought to have planted when he altered a watercourse as part of his agricultural improvements to the land.
A comparison of two detailed estate maps supports Burns's involvement in planting the trees. The first map, drawn in 1787, a year before Burns moved in, shows no trees in the location, while a second map from 1817 clearly depicts the trees in place.
The trees currently stand on the spoil bank above the Laggan Burn, a watercourse Burns is documented to have excavated.
Some of the trees bear graffiti carved into their trunks dating back to the 1890s, by which time the trees would have already grown significantly.
Written records from Burns’s time at Ellisland refer both to the ditching of the burn and to tree planting on the farm.
The trust plans to apply to Dumfries and Galloway Council for a Tree Preservation Order to formally recognise the trees’ historical association with the poet.
"The beech trees on the Laggan Burn spoil bank tell a story you can read in the maps and in the ground itself," Brown said.
"There are written references from Burns's time to both the digging out of the burn and to tree planting at the farm during his improvements.
"The location, scale and age of these particular trees all point in the same direction, and they deserve formal protection."
Preservation of Original Farmhouse Features
Burns lived at the farmhouse for three years, and researchers now believe that more of the poet’s original features remain intact than previously thought.
Among the discoveries are original floorboards, ironmongery, windows, wall presses, and a neoclassical wooden mantelpiece.
Burns mentioned the mantelpiece in a letter written from Mauchline in June 1788, shortly before moving into the house. The mantelpiece was subsequently passed down through the Taylor family, who owned Ellisland for more than a century after Burns’s death.
Documentary sources, including the Barnbougle Papers—specifically Thomas Boyd’s accounts for the buildings of Ellisland found within Lord Rosebery’s collection at Barnbougle Castle in 2022—were instrumental in identifying the original features.
Leading Burns scholars and museum professionals from across Scotland collaborated to examine the evidence.
"What is striking about these discoveries, taken together, is how directly they connect today's visitors to Burns's daily life at the farm," said Adam Dickson, project curator for the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust.
"The house he built, the furnishings he selected, and the trees he planted; each is a piece of tangible, physical evidence of his presence here.
"After more than two centuries, there is still a great deal to learn about Robert Burns at Ellisland, and what we are uncovering will shape the way visitors experience this place for generations to come."
Significance and Future Plans
Duncan Dornan, chair of the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust, emphasised the importance of the heritage uncovered.
"Heritage of this depth and authenticity is rare.
"I have no doubt that Ellisland deserves to take its place among the most significant literary heritage sites anywhere in the world, and it is clear that these discoveries strengthen the case for the investment now needed to secure its future."
The trust announced plans to mark the discoveries with a programme of public events at the farm over the coming months. These will include a woodland walk led by the forester who identified the trees.
Additionally, a series of monthly curator-led tours of the farmhouse will be held throughout the summer.
