Watchtree Nature Reserve was once part of a lawless and troubled land situated either side of Hadrian's Wall and the Solway Coast. This land, far from the monarchies and Home Counties, was known as the Border Reivers. From Dumfries & Galloway to Cumbria and Northumberland people fought, killed, smuggled and robbed for over 350 years up to the end of the 16th century.
It's hard to imagine but today's civilized Parishes of Great Orton and Aikton (Watchtree is situated within these two Parishes) were once home to some of the most ruthless and indiscriminate people. The situation was so bad that even neighboring families or clans would fight each other.
It is reputed that at Watchtree, two trees were used as watch towers by local people to warn fellow Parishioners of imminent raids from Reivers (Raiders) coming across the Solway and the Scottish Border.
Today, two trees; Scots Pine and Ash have been planted at the entrance to Watchtree Nature Reserve to symbolize these once important natural features.