Saturday 3 March 2012

Inspired!


No, not that sort of inspired, but the answers to my last post (thank you so much for identifying my mystery plant, Jacula) has inspired me to write about the Oak.







We think ours is about 150 years old. It used to be part of a hedgerow with brambles and hawthorns. I probably used to stand in what is now our garden to pick blackberries whilst walking our dog Ben and my toddler daughter.


The builders moved in and began to hack chunks off the tree until the council stepped in and slapped a protection order on it. Thus we bought a new house with a very lop-sided and sorry looking oak tree dominating the back garden.

It stood up to the hurricane of 1987 and when we could afford it, we called in the tree surgeons to trim it back and have to get them back every 3 or 4 years. We have to get planning permission every time, but we now have a large, but nicely shaped tree.

It has been home to birds and insects.









And squirrels not to mention lichens and the like.









I do wonder what will happen if it grows as big as the Major Oak of Sherwood Forest.

Or Old Knobbley.

But that won’t be for several hundred years so I'm not losing sleep worrying about it.

A neighbour once suggested I “deal with it” by hammering copper nails into the trunk! Makes me shudder to think of it. That tree was around long before any of us and I hope it will be around long after we’ve gone, keeping its secrets and providing a home for some of our wildlife.

Here’s an interesting article about the oak, King of the Greenwood.

All I know is that I feel a sense of peace when I’m close to the tree - unless a gale is blowing. Not so peaceful then with the wind battering the branches! And not a lot of fun in autumn when it dumps its leaves, but on a hot summer day it is lovely to sit in its shade and pretend you’re not in a small garden, but somewhere peaceful and pretty… in Yorkshire perhaps, miles away from everything.


26 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing the history of your tree with us. I have a beautiful silver birch in my front garden which I rescued along with two others from a site which was going to be dug up to put houses. The three little seedling were planted in my garden I lost one when my beloved cut it back along with some other shrubs while helping me to tidy up. One is now a bonsai tree which happened when I was digging it up. I think I must have damaged the tap root and the one in the front now stands taller than the house.
    I love trees

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  2. I loved reading about this amazing tree. I think the oak is my favourite, so peaceful, strong and English. I could sit beneath one for hours and hours.
    Many thanks, Teresa, for sharing its history.
    I think Old Knobbley is incredible too.

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  3. Thank you for sharing the photos and its history, Teresa.

    Oaks are part of our past still living, just as your oak is- and long may it do so.

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  4. It is sad when trees are destroyed to make way for houses isn't it, Jarmara. How lovely that you saved the seedlings. Silver birch are so pretty and always make me think of summer.
    I love trees too x

    I saw Old Knobbley before I realised he was famous, Joanna - brilliant name isn't it. I don't have a name for my tree, I should think of one :-) x

    Yes, Carol, there is a real sense of history about oak trees isn't there x

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  5. There's something very strong and peaceful and patient about trees,isn't there. They aren't in a hurry like other plants. We had an oak tree in our last garden, and it felt as though it were a privilege to live beside it. I never felt we owned it. It had too much dignity to be considered a mere possession.

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  6. I'm glad you kept your tree, Teresa and didn't 'deal with it'. Thanks for telling us about it.

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  7. It's lovely to read your peaceful story Teresa, I haven't read one of your lovely stories for a while, this is heavenly.

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  8. You're so right, Frances. I think of it as "our" tree, but of course it isn't really. And dignified, yes x

    I had quite a few suggestions about "dealing with it", Patsy. I really don't understand why people don't treasure something so special x

    Aw, thank you Suzy x

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  9. Thanks for this, Teresa, and I'm glad 'your' tree is still standing. I love finding out about the meanings of different trees. There's definitely something special about them.
    I'm in a bit of a dilemma about a small oak grown from an acorn in a pot. It's now about 15 years old and several times I've transferred it to a bigger pot, resorting to trimming it back during the last couple of years to cope. Our garden isn't big enough to plant it out in, and I don't really know what else to do with it. Does anyone have any ideas?

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  10. I think you've done well to grow one in a pot. I've tried several times without success.
    Could you donate it perhaps? Somewhere with gardens like a hospital or care home? x

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  11. When our daughter and her husband were viewing a property, recently, one of the key features of the garden was a mature tree. The estate agent blundered in with, "Of course, you'd want to take the tree down...give you a bit more space." No hope for some, is there?

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  12. Great to hear your tree is protected, Teresa - I love the way it then offers protection and joy to flora and fauna.

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  13. How awful, Martin x

    It's a great knock on effect isn't it, Rosemary :-) x

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  14. Lovely, Teresa. How lucky you are.

    Friends and I are disgusted that our local council has this week allowed the felling of an old circle of oaks in one of our suburban parks, to make room for an Asda. Hard to believe, really. I thought the local council was there to look after the area, not to destroy it. Very sad.

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  15. That is shocking, Joanne. Very sad x

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  16. Oh your tree is still only a baby according to King of Greenwood! 150 years young! Awww and it's already been attacked by all and sunder so thank heavens for the council and for you for looking after this gorgeous wonderful and ever so mystical tree! I cannot repeat in writing what I exclaimed when I read what your neighbour suggested. It's Sunday and I'm trying to think only good kind thoughts about other people! Ahem.

    Enjoy your tree - may you and your family watch over it forever and ever! Take care
    x

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  17. Yep I agree, 'Providing a home for some of our wildlife'. Love the pics Teresa. x

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  18. I hadn't thought about it just being a young thing, Kitty, but it is really isn't it. We had the obligatory cat stuck up there once - not one of mine I hasten to add, my cats used to climb up and down with ease x

    Thanks, Diane. We have collared doves nesting in there every year and occasionally magpies x

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  19. I love oaks: so timeless and that gives such a sense of calm. There is a huge one where I walk my dog each day and several others in our village which have been here much longer than most of the houses. For the Milenium the village planted many more to create a new little forest protected by The Woodland Trust here on our doorstep. I love to think that in years to come when we're all no longer here, the trees we planted will still be young and still watching over the people who live here! :)
    www.lydiajones.co.uk

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  20. Hi Teresa,
    Oak kay, what a treemendous article. I also have a gigantic oak in my back garden. What tales these trees can tell.
    And yes, the breeze through the branches is a gentle song of nature and inspiration. My neighbours have complained about my protected 'listed' tree. A tree that dominates my garden and has ruined the reception on their satellite dishes and aerials. Oh, my technology and nature in bizarre opposition.
    Thanks for this fascinating article.
    In kindness, Gary
    x

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  21. That's lovely, Lydia :-) x

    I had forgotten the hoo-haa about satellite dishes, Gary - we had that too! But satellite dishes can be moved or stuck on aerial poles. My argument has always been that the tree was there before people moved in and if they don't like it, they shouldn't have moved there :-) x

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  22. You say, "All I know is that I feel a sense of peace when I’m close to the tree" I can almost feel it myself as you say those words. I too wonder at the trees that have come before us, outlive us and will outlive generations to come no doubt. Makes one feel very humble!

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  23. You say, "All I know is that I feel a sense of peace when I’m close to the tree" I can almost feel it myself as you say those words. I too wonder at the trees that have come before us, outlive us and will outlive generations to come no doubt. Makes one feel very humble!

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  24. I must admit I'm a bit of a tree-hugger, Deborah. You should see me in the woods :-) x

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  25. I have loved oak trees ever since reading a wonderful book by Richard Mabey about the oak. It said that it supported more native wildlife of all kinds than any other tree. There is some disease that is meant to be affecting oaks, I hope it doesn't spread too much.
    Thank you for this very nice post.

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  26. I remember reading that too, Jenny, not the book, but that the oak supports such a lot of different species.

    The disease is very worrying. They said it could be worse than Dutch Elm disease. An awful thought x

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