To most people, Killerton is a historic Devon estate. To us, it was a childhood kingdom of ancient trees, conker-filled pockets, Apple Days and endless adventures with Grandad. Looking back, I realise we weren't simply exploring its history, we were quietly becoming part of it.

Some family heirlooms are kept in boxes. Ours had been growing quietly in a Devon woodland for nearly seventy years. When the tree bearing my grandparents’ names disappeared from our family walks, it took an old photograph, discovered after Grandad died, to lead us back to it.