Appleton Thorn
The hawthorn tree in the picture is in the centre of the village of Appleton Thorn. The sign beneath it reads as shown below.
This thorn tree is an offshoot of the famous Glastonbury Thorn in Somerset. A thorn tree has stood here since the 12th century when according to local historians the original tree was planted by a Norman Knight, Adam de Dutton. He was returning from the Crusades in 1178 when he made a pilgrimage to the abbey, bringing an offshoot of the famous thorn back with him to plant on this site as a thanksgiving for his safe return. Over the centuries the custom of Bawming the Thorn grew up. Bawming means decorating the tree with flowers and ribbons. This is done to the singing of the Bawming song written by R. E. Egerton Warburton of Arley Hall in the 19th century. This unique ceremony has been revived and is held on the third Saturday in June. The tree was presented by the Appleton Thorn Women's Institute and planted in 1967.
If you are visiting Appleton Thorn, look out for the war memorial with its gold lettering showing the name of Captain Egerton Warburton of nearby Arley Hall. In the churchyard there are graves for service personnel killed in flying accidents at the nearby Fleet Air Arm base during the 1940s and 1950s.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/conkers-and-ghosts/june.htm