Tolkien speaks about the "fathers of the fathers of trees", and that in fangorn, there were some very old trees still alive.
When I read the following, I could not help but think of Tolkien
A Norway Spruce in the far North of Sweden, believed to be almost 10,000 years old.
As 10,000 years ago, the ice shelves were only just retreated from this part of the world, this was indeed one of the first trees to colonise what was effectively new land. Truly a father of the fathers of trees still living today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Tjikko
And another one. The Crowhusrt Yew Tree. Crowhirst is a village in Surrey (and a station on the London to Brighton line). This yew tree is believed by some to be 4000 years old. It thus predates the very old church next to which it stands and probably indicates the site may have had a cultic significance before a church was built there.
http://www.ancient-yew.org/userfiles...ril%202011.pdf