A dozen ‘magnificent oaks’ have been shortlisted for the Tree of the Year contest, including one that sheltered children’s tee parties, the widest oak in the UK and another shaped like an elephant.
According to the Woodland Trust, 11 trees on the theme of magnificent oaks had been chosen by a panel of tree experts along with one nominated by members of the public via social media.
They include oaks which are over a thousand years old, many with huge girths, individuals sporting ancient graffiti and a wide array of wildlife, hanging on in Sitka spruce plantations or threatened with felling for a bypass.
Dr Kate Lewthwaite, citizen science manager at the Woodland Trust, said: ‘We chose the iconic oak because it captures people’s imaginations – from their leaves to their acorns, these trees are ingrained in our heritage – and the ancients are so impressive in terms of their sheer size and age.
The Woodland Trust is campaigning for more robust legal protections for the country’s most valuable trees (Pictured, the Tea Party Oak)
According to the charity, oaks can live more than 1,500 years and support 2,300 different species of wildlife (Pictured, Castle Archdale Oak)
‘Some oaks that are alive today were already centuries old at the time of Queen Elizabeth I, or Charles Darwin.
‘It’s humbling to think how many events these trees have lived through, and that reaching full maturity they can stand for hundreds of years as ancient trees – all the while continuing to provide vital habitat as they hollow and produce dead wood,’ she said.
According to the charity, oaks can live more than 1,500 years and support 2,300 different species of wildlife, and the UK boasts more ancient oaks than the rest of Western Europe combined.
As the Woodland Trust is campaigning for more robust legal protections for the country’s most valuable trees, the charity said it was an obvious choice to select oaks – which are ‘ingrained in our heritage’ – to make up the shortlist.
As in previous years, the winning tree in the poll, which is open until October 21, will go forward to compete in the European Tree of the Year contest early next year.
But The Woodland Trust has warned that despite being a key part of British culture and heritage, oaks and other ancient trees have very little legal protection.
So as well as voting in the competition, people are also being invited to sign the Woodland Trust’s ‘living legends’ petition, calling for stronger laws around cutting down valuable trees.
Adam Cormack, head of campaigns at the Woodland Trust said: ‘The history of our country is interwoven with these wonderful trees, which have built our ships and cities, and after which we have named so many places – and pubs!
‘It is essential that future generations have the opportunity to stand under a centuries-old oak and wonder what stories it holds.’
Shortlist for Tree of the Year
Marton Oak – Cheshire
This is a 1,200-year-old sessile oak tree with a huge 14.02 metre girth, making it the UK’s widest recorded oak
The 12 oaks shortlisted for the Tree of the Year vote include Marton Oak in Cheshire.
This is a 1,200-year-old sessile oak tree with a huge 14.02 metre girth, making it the UK’s widest recorded oak, standing in a private garden on ‘Oak Lane’ and the trunk is entirely narrow.
Elephant Oak – Sussex
The oak (pictured) is the wildcard nomination from the public. It was nominated by Claire Sheppard
The ‘Elephant Oak’, Old Sloden Inclosure, Sussex, is the wildcard nomination from the public, nominated by Claire Sheppard, who said: ‘It’s a pollard oak known as the ‘Elephant Oak’ due to its massive trunk!
‘I hike for around 5km from Abbotswell car park to get there and back, and this wood always gives me goosebumps. It’s not the easiest place to reach and hence it’s always very quiet; I get a real sense of peace and solitude here,’ she said.
Bowthorpe Oak – Lincolnshire
The trunk is also hollow with ancient graffiti inside and it is claimed three dozen people once stood in it
Bowthorpe Oak is in Lincolnshire and is thought to be around a thousand years old. This is the second widest tree on the shortlist.
The trunk is also hollow with ancient graffiti inside and it is claimed three dozen people once stood in it.
Gregynog Oak – Powys
The ancient oak could have been admired by the likes of Gustav Holst and George Bernard Shaw
Gregynog Oak stands among several mammoth trees in wildlife-rich Great Wood in the grounds of Gregynog Hall in Powys.
It could have been admired by the likes of Gustav Holst and George Bernard Shaw, who are known to have visited the property.
Queen Elizabeth Oak – West Sussex
It is one of a few ancient oaks (pictured) associated with Elizabeth I, who is believed to have been positioned by the tree while hunting
The Queen Elizabeth Oak in West Sussex, which is the second largest sessile oak on record, after the Marton oak.
It is one of a few ancient oaks associated with Elizabeth I, who is believed to have been positioned by the tree on a hunting excursion in 1591.
Skipinnish – Lochaber
The oak supports a huge ecosystem in its canopy, including temperate rainforest bryophytes and lichens on its bark
The Skipinnish oak in Lochaber, which is named after a ceilidh band, is a large, single-stemmed oak that is surrounded by Sitka spruce monoculture.
But it still supports a huge ecosystem in its canopy, including temperate rainforest bryophytes and lichens on its bark.
The Michael – Midlothian
Some believe the oak was named after The Michael, the largest sailing ship afloat in the 16th century
Meanwhile, the Michael, Midlothian is a hybrid of the UK’s two native oaks, sessile and pendunculate.
Its name is probably a corruption of the Scots word ‘meikle’, meaning big, though some believe it was named after The Michael, the largest sailing ship afloat in the 16th century.
Tea Party Oak – Suffolk
The oak is named after tea parties held under it for village children in the 19th century
The Tea Party Oak, Suffolk, stands in the National Trust’s Ickworth Estate, but significantly predates the 18th century palace there.
It is significant for locals and wildlife including bats. It is named after tea parties held under it for village children in the 19th century.
King John Oak – Somerset
The oak has seen countless generations of children grow up alongside it. It was 500 years old when a school was founded
The King John Oak, Somerset, a tree that was already 500 years old when the school whose grounds it stands in was founded in 1519.
It has seen countless generations of children grow up alongside it.
Darwin Oak – Shrewsbury
Darwin’s Oak, as it is known locally, and eight other ancient trees are at risk of being felled to make way for the Shrewsbury bypass
It is estimated that the Darwin Oak, Shrewsbury is 550 years old and grows very close to The Mount, the childhood home of Charles Darwin.
Darwin’s Oak, as it is known locally, and eight other ancient trees are at risk of being felled to make way for the Shrewsbury bypass.
Capon Tree – Scottish Borders
Its sprawling form may have saved it from felling for shipbuilding, and for 75 years it has played a key role in the annual Jethart Callant festival
Capon Tree on the Scottish Borders is one of the last surviving trees of the ancient Jedforest woodland.
Its sprawling form may have saved it from felling for shipbuilding, and for 75 years it has played a key role in the annual Jethart Callant festival, with a sprig being used to decorate the leading man or Callant.
Castle Archdale Oak – Co Fermanagh
The Castle Archdale Oak, Co Fermanagh, has a vast trunk split into two stems, and was likely to have been standing throughout the building, capture, burning and abandonment of nearby, now-ruined, Castle Archdale in the 17th century.
The Castle Archdale Oak (pictured) in Co Fermanagh, has a vast trunk split into two stems