Planted before 1923.

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We don't know if this tree grew from an acorn or was planted as a sapling as part of forest management by the land owners prior to the Forestry Commission. It grows on a major intersection of a Fineshade Riding, so it may have been planted as a boundary tree.

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Trunk circumference at coring height: 232 cm.

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Tree rings are confirmed back to the 1950s as the corer couldn't reach the tree's centre. One of the interesting aspects of this art project is that trees still protect the secrets of their early lives.

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The focus of the tree/human narrative is on the complexity of biodiversity. 

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Oak trees are cold hardy and generally wind hardy, but can be damaged by late spring frosts. They can tolerate shade and grow well on mineral soils with poor or medium nutrients. 

 

This specific oak is healthy. Its sap wood goes back to 2003. It suffered some damage or disturbance in 2010, 2000, 1980, 1965, but not 1962/3 (one of the coldest winters on record) and during 1950s. It was not particularly stressed by the very dry summer of 1976, but grew less than usual in 1980. The tree was stressed in the late 1950s, shown by very narrow growth rings during this period.

 

It flourished in the early 1970s, particularly  in 1974. There’s no evidence of oak decline in this tree, given that Processionary Oak Moth is travelling up the country, due to rising temperatures.