Mulberry bush that inspired nursery rhyme has new lease of life
Historians believe the rhyme Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush refers to a tree that grew inside Wakefield Prison.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A mulberry bush which is believed to have inspired the famous nursery rhyme has been re-born in a new home.
Historians believe the rhyme Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush refers to a tree that grew deep inside one of Britain’s most notorious jails – Wakefield Prison, in West Yorkshire – until just a few years ago.
The story is that women prisoners at the jail would sing the song as they exercised around the mulberry bush which was planted in the yard around 200 years ago but died and was removed in 2019.
Cuttings were taken from the ancient plant and given to the nearby Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP).
On Thursday, the park said a cutting had been planted in the 500-acre estate after horticulturalists deemed it hardy and established enough to survive.
Mark Chesman, head of estates at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, said: “After it was originally planted within the prison walls, female prisoners were said to have danced around the tree to keep warm and they invented the rhyme to help keep their children amused.
“We feel extremely privileged to have been given the opportunity to save such an important part of our heritage that may have been lost forever without the hard work and dedication of our estates team.
“It is very fitting that YSP be the home for this precious plant.”
A special planting ceremony took place for the fledgling mulberry bush on Thursday, a short walk from the Learning Centre at YSP, along with the unveiling of a plaque to inform visitors of its heritage.
Wakefield Prison was originally built in 1594 and has housed some of the UK’s most notorious prisoners.