Money tree

agrumpycow · #1 (**permalink**) 23-09-2007, 11:24 AM

While up in Cumbria last week we found a number of trees that had coins hammered and bent into them. All kinds of coins, old and new. This photo was taken on the Ingleton Waterfall Trail.
I've never seen this before, is it purely for decorative effect or is there some other reason for it? Anyone know why it is done?

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 23-09-2007, 11:36 AM

I can only imagine that it's supposed to bring good luck or the like. We found something similar in North Cornwall a few years ago where money had been embedded in rock crevices near a small waterfall where a hermit is supposed to have once lived.
And yes, we did push a coin in ourselves!

Cazzie · #3 (**permalink**) 23-09-2007, 11:56 AM

There's a few here too along the river Wharfe at Bolton Abbey.

I've got no idea why though!

goosey · #4 (**permalink**) 23-09-2007, 04:05 PM

Hi Claire, we went on the Ingleton waterfall trail back in July and thoroughly enjoyed it - I would recommend it to anyone. A great walk. We started the walk last year but the weather got so bad we had to turn back, but we completed it this year. (The photo of me on my profile was taken there by the river Twiss.) I don't know why the money is in the trunks - it must just be some form of art, from a distance I thought thought it was a weird and wonderful type of tree that I had never seen before. I am trying for the life of me to think where we saw them in Cumbria aswell, but you had slipped over the border into North Yorkshire at Ingleton. Did you have a good holiday up there and get plenty more photo's to show us?

Cazzie · #5 (**permalink**) 23-09-2007, 04:28 PM

So glad you enjoyed the 'nine falls walk' at Ingleton Goosey, we've done it so many times I've lost count but it's always a great pleasure to do!

Ok, I had to ring up Bolton Estate and ask why there are coins hammered into the fallen tree trunks along the Wharfe. Answer - he laughed!

as he's been asked sooooo many times before, anyway...

Apparently people believe 'money will grow on trees!' and it's a good luck gesture as Wild-woman suggested earlier, well here at Bolton Abbey at least!

agrumpycow · #6 (**permalink**) 23-09-2007, 05:30 PM

Hi Goosey,
Had a fantastic holiday, I took sooo many photos and I'll need to sort through them before I post the best ones!
We spent the second week just outside Kirkby Lonsdale so we nipped over the border into Yorkshire quite a lot that week. Unfortunately we didn't complete the trail, the height got the better of me coming up to Thornton Force so we turned round

I feel a bit of a wimp!
I wish I could remember where we saw money trees in Cumbria, there were three locations in total.

Thanks for the reply Cazzie, maybe I should have added a coin to the collection!

ChrisJB · #7 (**permalink**) 23-09-2007, 05:39 PM

This custom is practised at Hardcastle Crags, near Hebden Bridge as well.

Regards, Chris

ron1863 · #8 (**permalink**) 25-09-2007, 10:39 AM

We used to have one where I live. It was considered lucky to hammer a coin into the tree, which was known as the "Lucky Bush"

It got blown down in a gale - so much for luck