Places to go
England is home to many historic oak trees, all with stories to tell. Here's a few that you could visit.
Midsummer Place
Surprisingly, a 150-year-old oak tree occupies a strategic location in the heart of Midsummer Place in an area of Milton Keynes called Oak Court.
Planted during Queen Victoria’s reign, the tree has survived many changes and is one of only three mature oaks in the city centre.
Instead of being cut down to make way for the shopping mall, Midsummer Place was simply built around it!
Address: Midsummer Place, central Milton Keynes
Sherwood Forest
The Visitors' Centre at the Sherwood Forest Country Park is by far the best place from which to see the ancient forest, as well as learn about its development and ecology. There are exhibitions which explain both the natural history of forestland around the world and life in medieval Sherwood, as well as its legendary associations.
Only a short walk away is the famous Major Oak. This 800-year old hollow tree is said to have been Robin's headquarters. It's a bit young for that, but still seems to give an eerie insight into the world of the Merry Men.
This magnificent giant tree has a waistline of 35ft, a height of 52ft and weighs an estimated 23 tons. Its exact age can only be guessed. Its huge size is a clue, but some oaks grow faster than others. The real answer lies in its enormous trunk!
Address: Sherwood Forest Country Park, Edwinstowe, Mansfield
Knightwood Oak
The Knightwood Oak is the largest oak in the New Forest at 7.4m girth, and surely one of the oldest. It is still going strong today and is a spectacular example of the ancient art of "pollarding", the traditional way of harvesting wood without killing the tree. It’s a shady spot to bring a picnic, get away from it all and try to imagine what life would have been like more than 400 years ago when this tree began to grow.
Address: The New Forest. From Lyndhurst take the A35 towards Christchurch. Approximately two miles out of Lyndhurst turn right into the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive. Knightwood Oak car park is the first car park on the left.
Boscobel House
This house is the site of one of the most famous oak trees in English history. Near the end of the English Civil War, after the Battle of Worcester, Charles II fled for his life, seeking refuge at Boscobel House. He hid in a nearby oak tree for a day, where he could see the patrols searching for him. The tree famously became known as The Royal Oak.
The tree standing on the site today is not the original Royal Oak, which is recorded to have been destroyed in the 17th and 18th centuries by tourists who cut off branches and chunks as souvenirs. The present-day tree is believed to be a 200 or 300-year-old descendant of the original and is therefore known as "Son of Royal Oak".
Visitors can also see the dairy, farmyard, smithy and gardens or pop in for a cuppa at the tearoom.
Address: Boscobel House, Brewood, Bishop's Wood
